There are few more controversial subjects in Britain than ‘the Troubles‘ in Northern Ireland and the activities of the IRA.
It was therefore extremely bold of Jim Sheridan, the Irish director of My Left Foot(1989), to bring In The Name Of The Father to the screen.
But although this compelling drama attacks the British justice system over wrongfully convicting the Guildford Four – those men imprisoned for many years for pub bombings, and eventually released – it focusses on one particularly poignant father-son relationship.
Daniel Day-Lewis, again revealing his wide acting range, is Gerry Conlon, the troubled Belfast youth whose father (Peter Postlethwaite) is also imprisoned when he comes to his son’s aid.
Emma Thompson plays Gareth Pierce, the lawyer who finally gets them exonerated.
The film isn’t 100% accurate – it considerably overplays the role of Peirce in clearing the innocent prisoners’ names – but its ferocious criticism of a grave injustice make it a great political work and a deserving winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.
Sheridan, Day-Lewis, Postlethwaite, Thompson and the film itself were all nominated for Oscars.
Gerry Conlon
Daniel Day-Lewis Giuseppe Conlon
Peter Postlethwaite Gareth Peirce
Emma Thompson Paul Hill
John Lynch Robert Dixon Corin Redgrave Carole Richardson
Beatie Edney Paddy Armstrong
Mark Sheppard Sarah Conlon
Marie Jones Annie Maguire
Britta Smith Joe McAndrew
Don Baker Benbay
Paterson Joseph Chief Police Officer Barker
John Benfield Ronnie Smalls
Frank Harper Danny
Anthony Brophy Tommo
Frankie McCafferty Ann Conlon
Joanna Irvine Granny Conlon
Anna Meegan Bridie Conlon
Leah McCullagh Deptford Jim
Jamie Harris Marian
Barbara Mulcahy
Director
Jim Sheridan
Video
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Gerry Conlon
Corin Redgrave
Chief Police Officer Barker
