As the Cannes film festival begins to wind down we happen upon-
reportedly- Ken Loach's final narrative feature. Jimmy's Hall is a quaint sort of outing- and the
acting at times can let it down- but as an impassioned, well researched and
idealistic study, it’s up there with the director's best.
The plot follows the true life story of Jimmy Gralton, a socialist from
Leitrim who moved to the States after the civil war only to return ten years
later to his local town. At the bequest of his neighbours he decides to rebuild
the village’s community centre; the Pearce & Connolly Hall. Jimmy
reinstates painting, literature and singing classes along with nights of Jazz
music (god forbid!) with the records he brought home. The hall seems to light
the whole town up but, of course, falls foul of the local establishment. The
priest (Jim Norton in full bishop Brennan mode) is first to denounce him as a communist
before the blueshirts follow suit.
Loach hones in on a very delicate moment in Irish politics here, a
crossroads of sorts between the war of Independence’s conclusion and the
beginning of the troubles in the North. Similar to the post war years in Britain; a subject which has always been close to the director’s heart, his argument is of a missed opportunity for a socialist
Ireland. The detail in clothing and the Offaly
landscape are all presented beautifully through Robbie Ryan’s gorgeous photography but a sense
of realism is hard to get a hold of and, regrettably, that's due to the surprisingly poor cast. It’s
not a criticism you would normally level at Loach, the director often works wonders with nonprofessional actors, but here it really can’t be denied. The lines come out a bit too clunky, the speeches a touch too brash. This isn’t to say the film doesn’t work as such- it's still a fine, thoughtful, impassioned piece of work- but the flaws are still
apparent.
A sure sense of pride was still on offer for any Irish attendees
in the packed out Salle Lumiere. Dotted cheers could be
heard for the Irish Film Board logo, as were belly laughs for some of the more
colloquial lines, but all in all the response was warm. The film was met with a
rousing applause and a good round of clapping-along could be heard as the credits' music rolled.
The director has been here a record 13 times before and if rumours
are to be true this could very well be his last. He hasn't exactly ended on a
classic per se but Jimmy’s Hall is
still a pleasant end to the affair.
