A Bend in the River

... for this film not being very well made. My vote is for the writer of the screenplay. The plot, which is minimal, and the dialogue also can vie for which is worse.

It begins as a successful Irish writer decides to return to Ireland after living in New York City for twenty years. Why does he do this? Is it on a whim? To "confront" his past? As we soon see, his past sucked and that's why he left.

Why did his past suck? His choices, maybe? The pettiness of the town's people? There was nothing very profound or even interesting about this guy's life. Plus, the way he acted, literally, was as dull as a poorly written film can be. His facial expression never changed. I kept trying to figure out if it was his acting or the script. Ultimately, I'd say both.

When there's a threat to the main character of violence and retribution it made little sense, besides confirming the motives for which he left the town in the first place. Ho hum...

Hate to give bad reviews, and when I do I feel like I should distinguish between the badly acted and the badly written. This one was just badly written. The actors did okay with what they had to work with. The soundtrack was not terrible. The camera work didn't suck. It's just that writing. I seemed like it was written by a guilt-ridden person, which is fine, if there is something interesting about what lead to that guilt. Which, I'm sorry, there wasn't.

What struck me most about this film was the poetic writing. We are given an insight into the author's soul which is in direct contrast with the outer man who's in therapy, has sporadic contact with his wife and child in New York after deciding to return to the troubled Ulster of his childhood and teenage years.

This film wouldn't be for everyone by a long shot. His declared enemy, the husband of the girlfriend he abandoned when he fled Ireland, is a little overdrawn, gun in hand, casually shooting a stray dog to show us how tough he is and threatening yer man, the author. The sinister dark threatening character of countless films breaking into homes and bedrooms (without a sound or a broken door or window!) and sitting by beds waiting for his victim to wake up.

But the language is beautiful and the scenery spectacular and the main character was engaging even though dislikable, a hard role to perform.

He lays his ghosts to rest finally though the resolution was a little speedy and underdeveloped.

8/10, worth the watch if you're into this kind of film. The strife in the North is a backdrop to his inner strife.