#Jimmy’s Hall

A film full of contrast and passion in “Jimmy’s Hall”

By GTVW Staff

Photos Agency

From Director Ken Loach and a well structured cast Barry Ward, Francis Magee, Aileen Henry, Simone Kirby, Stella McGirl, Sorcha Fox, Martin Lucey, Mikel Murfi, Shane O’Brien, as spectator you will enjoy for 106 minutes the great story of Jimmy Gralton’s sin was to build a dance hall on a rural crossroads in an Ireland on the brink of Civil War In 1921. The Pearse-Connolly Hall was a place where young people could come to learn, to argue, to dream… but above all to dance and have fun. As the hall grew in popularity its socialist and free-spirited reputation brought it to the attention of the church and politicians who forced Jimmy to flee and the hall to close.

 A decade later, at the height of the Depression, Jimmy returns to Co. Leitrim from the US to look after his mother and vows to live the quiet life. The hall stands abandoned and empty, and despite the pleas of the local youngsters, remains shut. However as Jimmy reintegrates into the community and sees the poverty, and growing cultural oppression.

Definitely is a smart and familiar film, full of turbulent times for each character and celebrates the spirit of these free-thinkers. The best key element is the Jazz Music with certain predictable anti-clerical anti-Irish stereotype. Even Ken Loach tends to be unsubtle when he is making some political points; however, this film earns points in many facts such as all violent protests that the main character has to face from the church for running a dance hall where his freedom has been compromised.