A One Mann’s Movies review of “That They May Face the Rising Sun” (2023).
(from the London Film Festival).
This is the second of two London Film Festival films I saw that is released in cinemas today (the other being “Kidnapped“). As such, I am republishing this post. You may have to hunt to find this one…. there seem to be just sooooo many films released today that there won’t be enough screens to go round!
There are some movies you can take an action-oriented Marvel/DC fan to. And then there’s “That They May Face the Rising Sun”. A beautiful, slow, melancholic film about love, death and the changing seasons.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Joe Rutledge (Barry Ward) and his wife Kate (Anna Bederke) have jacked in the London jet-set to grow roots in a rural Irish community. They are readily accepted back by the quirky local characters. The farm gives them the quiet to work on their books and art respectively. But their tranquility is threatened when Kate has to make a choice between Ireland and London.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: NR; (From the BBFC web site: “Strong language”).
Talent:
Starring: Barry Ward, Anna Bederke, Lalor Roddy, Ruth McCabe, Sean McGinley, Phillip Dolan, Brendan Conroy, John Olohan.
Directed by: Pat Collins.
Written by: Eamon Little & Pat Collins. (Based on the book by a John MaGahern).
Twitter Handle: #ThatTheyMayFaceTheRisingSun.
“Listen to the quiet and see if it wouldn’t drive you daft” – Johnny (Sean McGinley) and Patrick (Lalor Roddy) chatter on within earshot of Joe and Kate! (Source: Screener Screen shot (Break Our Pictures))
“That They May Face the Rising Sun” Review:
Positives:
- The script is pure poetry, with chunks of lyrical dialogue presumably lifted from McGahern’s pensive (final) work. For example, as Joe and Jamesie (Phillip Dolan) survey the glorious Irish countryside:
“The rain comes down. The sun shines. Grass grows. Children grow old and die. That’s the Holy all of it. We all know it full-well, but can’t even whisper it”.
Jamesie (Phillip Dolan).
- The film is chock-full of idiosyncratic Irishmen that Joe uses as inspiration for his writing. You’d think the characters were all made up. But you only have to go visit the Emerald Isle to find it’s all pretty accurate! An exchange between Johnny and Patrick near the start of the film (see photo caption) is typically mirth-inducing. But there are loads of other great moments:
- Jamesie looking at a magnificent view: “It’s still there”
- Patrick “Christmas… brings out the eejit in everybody.”
- Patrick (talking about the book Joe is writing): “Nothing like a rousing good tale. Shouting and fighting and crying.” Joe replies “There’s no shortage of those books knocking about.”
- Johnny: “All A1 – completely alphabetical.”
- The cast are great, but outstanding among them, from my point of view, is Lalor Roddy as the acerbic Patrick Ryan. If this wasn’t such a small indie film, I’d say it was an awards-worthy performance. It certainly deserves praise.
- The cinematography (by Richard Kendrick) is glorious. The Irish countryside as seen through the seasons looks spectacular.
- A delightful piano-based score by Irene and Linda Buckley suits the mood perfectly.
Negatives:
- The key conflict (of the go/stay decision) between Joe and Kate never felt fully explored to me. True, Joe has this nice exchange with her: “But isn’t that the beauty of it? Living day to day. Just Doing the work. Isn’t that why we came here? Why we actually left London?” But we never seem to get the reply or much actual discussion/argument between the pair.
- As I said in my introduction, this will be a Marmite film: some will find the leisurely pace far too slow.
Summary Thoughts on “That They May Face the Rising Sun”
At one point one of the characters asks (about Joe’s book) “Does anything happen? Or is it the usual heavy going?” Well, very little happens here in terms of plot. But it never felt “heavy going” due to both the wonderful countryside, viewed as the seasons tick over, and the characters on show. This is definitely not a film for action lovers. But for fans of TV’s “All Creatures Great and Small”, that’s the sort of gentle, bucolic experience you can expect with this.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “That They May Face the Rising Sun”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqTAQN8dsaY :
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