My Review "Stella Days "
My Rating 8.5 /10. Streaming on Prime
I really appreciate a friend on Terryard for recommending this fine Irish film from 2011 as it certainly went under my radar
The film had special resonance with me for a number of reasons my Dad was a local suburban film projectionist in the mid 1950's and my early education was in the Roman Catholic school system of that era which I'm sure and hope is less fear based and less doctrinal today than back then when young children were taught to be Godfearing and compliant to church teachings .He used to put in special screenings for the nuns only select titles of course like The Bells of St Mary's or Going My Way .
This is a delightful 2011 film with a lot of substance as well as nostalgia by Thaddeus O'Sullivan and starring Martin Sheen as a Roman Catholic priest in rural Irelandduring the mid-1950s.
The film is based on the book Stella Days: The Life and Times of a Rural Irish Cinema, written by Michael Doorley, which concerns the true story of how a small cinema came into being in the town of Borrisokane in County Tipperary. Filming took place in the town of Fethard rather than Borrisokane.
Lead actor Martin Sheen's mother was born in Borrisokane, County Tipperary, and it was during a family reunion in memory of her that Sheen was gifted with a copy of the book the film is based on.
Martin Sheen gives another one of his fine characterisations as Father Daniel Barry a dedicated and progressive Priest with more academic qualifications for his local Bishops liking Bishop Hegarty played by Tom Hickey regards any introduction to American Film culture as not suitable or necessary for the little Irish hamlet that is just coming to terms with the connection of electricity. Father Daniel is hoping to return to Rome to complete his studies but the Bishop wants him to stay and raise funds for a new church . At first The Bishop is furious that Father Daniel wants to promote the evils of Hollywood and the outside world by opening a Picture Show Cinema named "The Stella "after the celestial Star . Bishop Hegarty goes to great lengths to publish a fire and brimstone sermon highlighting the evils of Hollywood movies the lust and the crime .
This plays right into the hands of Father Daniel's adversary miserable mealy mouthed Mayor Brendan McSweeney (Stephen Rea) and sets up the conflict of interests
However when it's apparent that Father Daniel's project has the potential to become a much bigger fundraiser than was expected Bishop Hegarty has to reconsider his strategy. There's a hilarious scene when the Bishop walks in to "The Stella" during a test run for the new projector when a sample film clip is being shown of the famous beach love scene from "Here to Eternity"
He hauls the Father Daniel over the coals telling him that The Holy Church must retain its power and influence over the people of the village but raising funds to build the new Church is most important.
The Production team headed by Production Designer Anna Rackard ,Art Director Aeveen Fleming and Costume Designer Judith Williams are to be applauded for the sets ,costumes and props used to give an authenticity to the era and the general feel of this movie.
The script by Antoine O. Flatharta an Irish playwright and Screenwriter has done justice to the original memoir by Michael Doorley and written an intelligent script that in the wrong hands could have been schmaltzy and over sentimental story telling .
The film not only depicts a time in Ireland long before their breakthrough and historic Same Sex Marriage Equality Vote in 2015. As Bishop Hegarty says "Mother Church mustn't lose its influence and control over the people of Ireland thank God it has.
The film also depicts the power of men over their wives when women had little choice but obey even at the cost of physical abuse by a drunken husband and the Church would just stand by the man telling the woman to obey. The movie also shows the plight of many young men in their early teens or younger that were recruited to the Priesthood without any life experience leaving their families behind to boast that their son had a calling to God and had joined the seminary.
This film was a real delight for this movie goer and it's a great companion movie to the 2002 Irish movie "The Magdalene Sisters " and the wonderful 2013 film "Philomena" starring Dame Judi Dench thank you Denise for recommending it.
