Harry's Game

After a cabinet minister is gunned down in front of his wife and children on a London street the Provisional IRA claim responsibility. The killer, Billy Downes, makes his way back to the Falls Road in Belfast but it isn't long before a man is sent to find him. That man is army officer, an Ulsterman who takes lodging in The Falls claiming to have been away working as a merchant seaman. He doesn't know Downes identity; all he has to go on is an identikit picture and information he gleans from the locals. Any information gained has the potential to endanger the person who told him. The IRA learn that there is a man, who is unknown to the authorities in Northern Ireland, and start hunting for any outsiders; it is soon a cat and mouse came as Harry searches for Downes and the IRA hunt for him.

This superlative three part TV drama has a very natural feel; there is nothing glamourous about what is happening and Harry is far from the traditional hero. There is an almost constant feeling that things could easily go wrong for him and that would almost certainly mean torture and death. The creators could easily have made Downes a monstrous character but instead he is a fairly ordinary person, almost sympathetic at times as his commanders keep using him without risking themselves. The acting is impressive throughout; the fact that there are few familiar faces makes it feel all the more real. Ray Lonnen and Derek Thompson stand out as Harry and Downes. While most of it was filmed in Leeds rather than Belfast I doubt many viewers will realise... the only times I thought 'That's not Northern Ireland' were when prominent British Rail logos, not the Northern Ireland Railway logos, were shown... a very minor quibble indeed. The story plays out well with many moments of real tension and an ending that will stick with the viewer years after they first see it.

Those of us who were fortunate enough to see Harry's Game in 1982 on TV were watching a stitched together version for broadcast distribution. It was originally made as a TV mini series in three one-hour parts. The recently available British DVD (PAL region 2) is shown in its original episodic format.

The other postings have said enough to describe the story, so I won't go into it. We've seen the story in many incarnations, but the real attraction to this film is the film making.

Typical of British cinema, it is very Spartan: no superfluous music, sound, or special effects. The costumes are "everyday," and the sets are actual row houses, typical of the times and area. This gritty story plays out without cinematic distractions or any of the nauseating political correctness which has become "de rigueur" in today's films.

It has been said about music that a simple melody well played is far more beautiful than a symphony butchered. Similarly, one can say about film that a simple, believable story well told is far more captivating than a howler of a story tossed together with a dog's dinner of special effects. Think of this film in terms of Zen.

** I will say the very opening of the film with the haunting Celtic vocals by Enya and Clannad instantly caught my attention. At the time Enya was merely the vocalist in the family band, Clannad, and in 1981, was an unknown in North America. However, I knew immediately this was a voice destined for greatness. For Enya fans who only know her music, the "Theme to Harry's Game" refers to this marvelous film.

This is yet another example of the abysmal ignorance of marketing on the part of the British film industry. Evidently the owners of the property don't like making money. The only thing this film lacked was a marketing budget and someone to market it.

For film lover's who are disappointed by the dearth of North American releases of marvelous British, Aussie and European films, I would highly recommend purchasing a region free DVD player, and ordering your films from England. There are several sites which sell them very cheap. Also, if you like French cinema, set your browser to detect French language hits also when you search film titles. Lots of great used titles available on ebay.fr or amazon.fr.

Outstanding movie.

One comment on a comment above in which someone refers to Enya as the vocalist on the Clannad theme. Enya (Eithne Ní Bhraonáin) had left Clannad before they recorded this theme. If I recall correctly she only appeared on one album "Crann Úll" (Apple Tree) as a backing vocalist. The lead vocalist on the theme was her sister Máire Ní Bhraonáin who records solo under the Anglicised version of her name Moya Brennan. The voice sounds a lot more like Moya also. I heard her perform this in a small venue (about 60-70 people) in Gleann Cholm Cille in Donegal a couple of months ago. Moya did a lovely job singing this as well as some of her newer stuff and a number of traditional tunes in Irish.

I read the Seymour novel in the eighties and really enjoyed it then. It was remarkably potent and pithy, with immensely satisfying characters, plot and subplots all so well developed. Finding a copy of the DVD of the miniseries was an opportunity too good to miss. It's great television, and actually gains from the lack of big names, and from the austerity of the production and performances. Credible portrayals in the vein of "the professionals", and even "edge of darkness". To their credit the actors all give a degree of subtle authenticity to their roles that's commendable, and combined with the great plot, HG makes for evocative if nostalgic viewing, especially for enthusiasts of the genre, period or subject matter. Not flashy, but rewarding.

Easily the best thriller set in Belfast, taken from Gerald Seymour's excellent novel. The film benefits from a degree of accuracy you will never find in 'The Devil's Own,' 'Patriot Games' or any of the other Hollywood nonsense. A good cast with many Belfast actors adds realism and the story is fast-paced and believable. The opening sequence is shocking, but again very detailed and the use of the IRA CO as a voice-over is pretty clever. The tension as the IRA close in on Harry is palpable as is his feeling of isolation and all the characters are three-dimensional. Leeds was used for some filming, but it feels like Belfast and there is good use of Belfast locations as well, especially during the climax. 'It was well done, Billy...'