JEANNE’S REVIEW

Screenwriters Éamon Little and Pat Collins, who also directs, have adapted John McGahern’s last novel, “That They May Face The Rising Sun”. McGahern is considered one of Ireland’s greatest writers and this particular book is read yearly by many of his fans.

Set in the 1970s in a rural, lakeside community in Ireland, THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN revolves around Joe (Barry Ward) and Kate Ruttledge (Anna Bederke) who moved to the area five years prior from London. Joe, a writer, grew up nearby and his love for this part of Ireland --- and its residents --- is uniquely transparent.

Kate, too, has come to appreciate this close-knit village, though she does miss London and still travels there often. She and a partner run an art gallery which features Kate’s works. She and Joe created a studio for her in their lovely home which is situated at the end of a beautiful country lane. She is able to work on her craft peacefully, while Joe writes quietly in his own separate space.

Because this takes place before television and telephones are available in this area, neighbors visit one another regularly to deliver the news. A frequent guest is Patrick Ryan (Lalor Roddy), a curmudgeonly bachelor who doesn’t seem to have any filters --- he just says whatever he’s thinking.

Other friends include Mary (Ruth McCabe) and Jamesie Murphy (Phillip Dolan), a couple in their 70s and Joe’s uncle, The Shah (John Olohan), who runs the local garage. Once a year Jamesie’s brother, Johnny (Seán McGinley), visits from London. He and Patrick are old friends but still manage to squabble like young boys. And then there is Bill Evans (Brendan Conroy) who “slaves” for a local farmer because, unfortunately, he was born out of wedlock.

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN takes place over a year in the lives of these unforgettable characters. The pace is unhurried as they navigate their daily routines which include helping their neighbors with jobs much too big for one person. We witness lambing, shearing, saving hay and cutting turf surrounded by the glorious landscapes of rural Ireland. All of this is accompanied by a lulling piano soundtrack from composers Irene and Linda Buckley.

Ward and Bederke are perfectly suited. Each is more than capable of expressing themselves without uttering a word. They exude an easiness between them that translates to the calm, even flow of the film. Not much happens in THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN except for the minutiae of daily life in a time we will not see again. Not to be confused with boring, Collins’ movie is an ode to a simpler existence --- and it is breathtaking.

Roddy as Patrick could be the focus of an entire film himself. Patrick is quite the character, and Roddy deftly brings him to life. It is Roddy who explains the title when he, Joe and others are burying a friend. He places the body in the grave so that the deceased “may face the rising sun”. McGinley also does an exceptional job portraying Johnny, another bachelor who finds himself cast off to London.

Director of photography Richard Kendrick deserves a great deal of praise for the stunning vistas of this lakeside community. From the luscious rolling hills to the crystal- clear waters, Ireland has never looked more spectacular. It’s worth seeing THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN just for the awe-inspiring cinematography.

Opinion: See It Now!

DAVID’S REVIEW

In 1970s Ireland, before telephones or TVs, a couple has moved to a rural part of the countryside to run a small farm and live the simple life. THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN, based on the novel of the same name by acclaimed Irish writer John McGahern, is partly the story of Joe and Kate Ruttledge, but just as much the story of the colorful characters who make up their circle of friends and associates. It should be mentioned, though, that Barry Ward as Joe and Anna Bederke as Kate are subdued but expressive in conveying the normalcy within this tale.

Joe is a writer who pens his material deliberately as we watch him sitting at a table putting words to paper. Kate is an artist who co-owns a London art gallery. This married couple has been living off the land for five years after leaving London, but the turning point in their lives occurs when Kate’s partner decides he must move on.

The dilemma for Joe and Kate is clear. They could uproot themselves and move back to London to run the gallery. Or they could sell it --- allowing them to maintain their current rural existence.

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN is a movie, as previously noted, rife with unique and interesting characters. One by one we meet them as they are invited --- or welcome themselves --- into the Ruttledge home for a meal or a drink or just a conversation.

Jamesie Murphy (played by Phillip Dolan, a 73-year-old in his first movie role because the director, Pat Collins, spotted him in an Irish pub telling a tale, and liked what he witnessed) is one of their neighbors. He is married to Mary (Ruth McCabe), a kind but somewhat judgmental woman.

Bill Evans (Brendan Conroy) is a grizzled, worn-down old codger who works --- some might say “slaves” --- for a local farmer. One of his jobs entails wading into a nearby river filling small buckets with water. The Shah (John Olohan), Joe’s uncle, is about to retire from owning and operating the local garage. He is also about to marry Mrs. Maguire (Catherine Byrne, real-life spouse of John Olohan). Their wedding reception later in the movie is a joy to watch.

The actor who personifies a colorful character in THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN is Lalor Ruddy who plays Patrick Ryan. Patrick uses his favorite four-letter expletive frequently. His looks are disheveled --- he could use a good bath --- and yet we hang on his every word. In one scene, Patrick is changing into a suit and tie for Christmas dinner, and it is fascinating to watch his transformation from unkempt to reasonably acceptable. Ruddy won an Irish award for Best Supporting Actor for this film.

Johnny Murphy (Seán McGinley) is Jamesie’s brother who shows up at the Ruttledge home on a couple of occasions. It is Johnny who provides one of the movie’s most serious developments. And it will explain the film’s title.

The movie’s settings never stray from the rural countryside. Director of photography Richard Kendrick provides long, always beautiful shots of the sky and terrain, many of which elicited oohs and aahs from my illustrious partner, Jeanne.

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN was co-written by director Collins and Éamon Little. Fans who only appreciate action movies should stay away, but if you’re looking for a well-acted, slice-of-life film from a bygone era, this is it.

Opinion: See It Now!