Jimmy’s Hall – Review by Frances Winston

Directed by: Ken Loach

Starring: Barry Ward, Simone Kirby, Jim Norton, Andrew Scott

In cinemas May 30th

This latest offering from acclaimed director Ken Loach is based on the true story of Jimmy Gralton who remains the only Irishman ever deported from the country. Considered a political dissident the government took advantage of the fact that the carried an American passport, having emigrated there in 1909 before returning home, and therefore declared him an alien in order to justify the ruling. Since this is a movie though certain artistic liberties are taken with the tale.

Gralton, who is played here by Barry Ward, returns to Ireland after 10 years away in America and is persuaded to reopen a hall on his land that the locals can use to run classes, teach and hold dances. This provokes the ire of the Catholic Church who determine to shut it down. However Jimmy won’t yield to their demands and his radical ideas continued with his reluctance to toe the line finally seal his fate as he is removed from the country with only the clothes he stands in.

The real Gralton’s story was somewhat more complex than this movie makes it appear. There are vast political issues running through his tale which appear somewhat glossed over here. Loach instead focuses on a fictitious love story between Jimmy and local woman Oonagh who is married to somebody else (the real Gralton was in fact married). When politics are featured they come in spurts and seem somewhat out of keeping with the tone of the movie. Also, Loach encourages his actors to improvise dialogue and in certain scenes here it is painfully obvious that the actor is desperately grasping for words having not had the luxury of a scripted conversation. Ward does a compelling job as Jimmy and Sherlock baddie Andrew Scott shines as a local priest but some of the other performances are hit and miss. Also, many of the characters are not terribly rounded and as a result you don’t really care about them.

This aside this is a sweet film that paints a picture of a forgotten Ireland that was firmly under the thumb of the Catholic Church and still struggling to find it’s own political identity. Unfortunately the serious historic elements feel as if they are treated rather glibly here in favour of scenes of dances in the hall, which all makes for a lovely but not terribly deep story. The editing is also rather choppy which is quite disconcerting in places and the movie often seems to just jump around willy nilly.

This could have been an extremely powerful film about a shameful incident in Ireland’s past but instead it is a nostalgia trip with occasional heavy moments thrown in to remind us that Jimmy was a political activist. It looks beautiful and is wonderfully shot but on the whole it feels far too light given the seriousness of the subject matter. That said Loach’s films are always worth a look and this is no exception. Just don’t expect to be deeply moved or shocked. Rather you will find yourself basking in the portrayal of a forgotten Ireland that is at times equally cosy and harsh.