Alison-Mason Review of Country

Country (2000)

A film that deals with relationships between family

[10/10 · 7 November 2007]

This film called 'Country' examines the complex relationship between a father and son. The film is set in rural Ireland in the 1970s and it tells the story of a motherless family of men shaken by the arrival of an estranged aunt from England. This family happens to live on a farm and the aunt comes to stay after the death of young boy Jack's mother. This story is based on particularly around this family and their relationships between them, as this film deals with heartbreak and emotions and love. The theme of the outsider is continued in the social backdrop of a community of travellers. The young boy Jack befriends another boy, who is a little older than him and is one of the travellers, called Michael, who is living near by the farm, who teaches Jack to defend himself from bullies. This film is beautifully filmed with shots of the countryside and the drama is wonderfully played by talented casts. It shows what life was like in Ireland during that time living in the countryside and the difficulties of being raised and the dislikes between the neighbours from different communities. I enjoyed this film as it was written and directed very well.