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Perhaps because the natural scenery is too charming, the folk songs are too sweet, and the tap dance is too passionate, Ireland is a "land of fairy tales" in my mind, synonymous with peace and comfort. So it was really shocking to learn that the Emerald Country had also experienced hundreds of years of dire turmoil. This movie is an entry point to broaden my shallow understanding. In the past two days, I have searched a lot about the past grievances and entanglements between the two countries, but it is still difficult to come up with a clearer clue. It's not mandatory, just use it as a record to talk about some of your thoughts.
Scratched the timeline. The IRA announced its complete disarmament in September 2005, which amounted to giving up another six counties of Northern Ireland by force. This film, co-produced by Ireland and other countries, with the background of the Irish War of Independence (British-Irish War, 1919~1921) and the Irish Civil War (1922~1923), was released in June 2006. 59th) Cannes Palme d'Or. The political significance behind it is obvious, so it is no wonder that it is named "hugely controversial". I admire the old director (Ken Loach) very much. As an Englishman, he breaks the boundaries of nationality and ethnicity, embraces a benevolent heart, and tells that period of history full of grief from an Irish perspective.
In the first half of the story of the War of Independence, under the pressure of the British army (mainly the Black and Tans), the Irish people resisted through guerrilla warfare. Workers went on strike, train drivers refused to carry British troops, and men, women and children were mobilized on and off the battlefield. Although the sacrifice was huge, everyone was full of enthusiasm and went forward one after another. However, the situation took a sudden turn - in 1921, the Anglo-Irish treaty. In the treaty, Ireland was divided into two parts, with 26 southern counties forming the Free State and 6 northern counties being assigned to the United Kingdom. The Free State must allegiance to the King, and laws passed by Parliament must be approved by the British Governor before they can take effect. Since then, there have been great divisions within Ireland.
I want to come to Ireland at that time, the relatives of comrades-in-arms who broke up due to political differences were by no means a minority. In order to show the change of the two brothers from supporting each other to being enemies of each other, the old director made a lot of effort. Two of the group plays, "As a revolutionary army, should we unite with the country gentry to fight, or stand on the side of the toiling masses" and "Whether to accept the Anglo-Irish treaty", the debate was simply too exciting.
In the face of the treaty, Teddy's brother, the leader of the revolutionary army, said that if they did not accept it at this time, the United Kingdom would launch a more intense offensive. At that time, the country would be wiped out, and peace would not come. The younger brother Damien's faction believes that the victory is just a short distance away. If you don't take advantage of the situation and continue to fight, you can only be a second-class citizen and will never be able to achieve true equality and freedom. Although the two factions are arguing with each other, their long-term goals are the same, but the contradictions are still intensified, and civil wars break out. In the end, the older brother who was a "treaty supporter (National Army)" captured the younger brother of the "anti-treaty group (Republican Army)" and was killed because the younger brother refused to betray his companions.
In Damien (Cillian Murphy)'s suicide note to his wife Sinead (Ola Fitzgerald), there are two passages -
"I tried not to get into this war, and did. And now try to get out, and can't." I didn't want to get involved in this war, but it backfired. Now I want to get out, but I can't.
As a medical student who could have a bright future away from the battlefield, Damien joined the guerrillas following in the footsteps of his brother Teddy because he experienced the brutality of the black and brown troops and was touched by the fighting attitude of his compatriots. As bystanders, it is difficult for us to define the gains and losses of this choice, but after all, when the crisis is at stake, if the country is truly destroyed, how can we protect ourselves? Every little "I" will be swept by the torrent, rolling forward endlessly.
"It's easy to know what you're against, quite another to know what you are for. I think now, I know, and it gives me strength." It's easy to know what you're against, but hard to know what you're after what is. I think now that I know, it gives me strength.
When ordered to personally execute Chris, the little boy who revealed the whereabouts of the guerrillas, Damien felt the huge cost behind the struggle and was deeply distressed, but still decided to insist - "I hope that the Ireland we fought for is worth it." (I hope this Ireland we're fighting for is won'th it.)" Experienced betrayal and decided not to betray, only to be betrayed in the end, it's a bit of a trick of fate. But what about abandoning life in the face of one's own beliefs and true pursuits?
The wind blows the wheat waves, and the wheel of history rolls forward. We all know what happened after the movie. In this film, the director is more inclined to Damien's side. We can't help but regard Teddy and Britain as villains. However, since it is a war, how can justice be said? It depends on the position and the winner.
Peace is not easy, I only hope that the beautiful emerald country will no longer have the haze of war.
2018.3.17 Watching at the China Film Archive
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