Ireland in the 1940s , Roseanne McNulty (elderly Vanessa Redgrave) has allegedly a mental illness and along the way she is writing a strange diary . As Roseanne is a female mental patient who must vacate the soon-to-be demolished mental institution in Roscommon , Ireland , that she's called home for over 50 years. There the hospital's psychiatrist , Dr. William Grene (Eric Bana) has to carry out the control of her mental situation . He finds himself intrigued by Roseanne's her fierce attachment to her Bible , which she has over the decades transformed into a palimpsest of scripture, drawings , weird figures and cryptic diary entries . As Doctor Grene delves deeper into Roseanne's past , as the old woman who keeps a diary of her extended stay at a mental hospital and subsequently we watch her through a long flashback as a young girl (Rooney Mara , though Jessica Chastain was first offered the role but she dropped out after the project was delayed and she was replaced by Mara) seduced by young men of the village , she is really charming , and some youngsters pursue her . We learn that she moved to Sligo to work in her aunt's café , fell in love with a RAF pilot (Jack Reynor , though other actors were originally attached to star the character) , and a local Protestant priest (Theo James) is also enamored for her . ¨At the end of your life, what will you remember?¨. "Anything you see with love is the truth. The rest is smoke" .¨Time doesn't forget¨.
A dramatic film set in Roscommon , Ireland , concerning a troublesome love story with downbeat and tragic consequences . Based on novel ¨The Secret Scripture¨written by Sebastian Barry , its results to be one of the McNulty Family series of books . A competently made Jim Sheridan film , it was very personal to his own experiences : the dramatic film is finely developed with high sensibility , emotion , agreeable situations , an intimate romance in which men fall tragically in love with her and resulting in a sad outcome . Highlights of the movie are the colorful cinematagrahy showing the gorgeous Irish outdoors by cameraman Mikhail Krichman, as well as evocative musical score with plenty of traditional sounds by composer Brian Byrne . Main and support cast area frankly good . Rooney Mara delivers an enjoyable acting as the young woman whose charisma proves seductive . Vanessa Redgrave as the mental hospital patient with seemingly inscrutable rituals and tics gives a pretty good acting , while Eric Bana is nice as a doctor who is called in to assess her mental condition . And Jack Reynor as a dashing fighter pilot and Theo James as his contender suitor , both of whom provide acceptable acting . Along with other decent secondaries , such as : Aidan Turner, Susan Lynch , Pauline McLynn, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Adrian Dumbar , among others .
The motion picture was well directed by Jim Sheridan who usually shoots films in Ireland and about Irish themes . The film was successful critically and commercially was a flop . Jim eventually made his first film, My left foot (1989), starring Daniel Day-Lewis, about the Irish artist Christy Brown, who only had control of his left foot.The film was a surprise success , with both Day-Lewis and co-star Brenda Fricker winning Oscars for their performances. Sheridan received two Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay. It was an amazing debut film, and at age 40, Sheridan was a late bloomer to the film industry. He followed with the film The field (1990), starring Richard Harris a then-unknown Sean Bean and John Hurt, this film was based on a theatre play by John B. Keane . Sheridan bounced back three years later with the film In the name of the father (1993), once again starring Daniel Day-Lewis , and Pete Postlethwaite , gaining seven Oscar nominations but did not win anything, concerning four teenagers who are accused of an IRA bombing . Throughout the 90s , Sheridan did some on-the-side work as an actor and and writing credits . Sheridan's next directorial film was the gritty film The Boxer (1997), which was also the third collaboration between Sheridan and Daniel Day-Lewis. The film was about a former IRA associate released from prison after fourteen years. He attempts to put his life back together by starting a boxing club, as well as reconciling with his former love . It was nominated for three Golden Globes, including Best Actor (Day-Lewis) and Best Director (Sheridan). Sheridan moved slowly between his films ; his next film was In america (2002), starring Paddy Considine, and Samantha Morton. And , finally , this The Secret Scripture (2016) . Rating : 7/10 . Above average . Worthwhile watching . The motion picture will appeal to Rooney Mara and Theo James fans .
