Jimmy's Hall

Ken Loach is angry. The director in the social realist sub-genre, Loach recently claimed that film critics find the idea of a politically informed and free-thinking working-class as “abhorrent”. His latest – and, if initial rumours were to believed, his last – film Jimmy's Hall, features many scenes of a rural Irish community discussing politics, freedom and religion in 1930s Ireland. Quite why Mr Loach believes all critics view such scenes as “fantasy” is rather perplexing and a little bemusing. However, what is clear is that Jimmy's Hall is packed full of political statements and ideology. It's a shame, then, that none of it really sticks.

Set in rural Ireland during the “Red Scare” of the 1930s which saw a wave of concern sweep the establishment about communist activity, Jimmy's Hall is inspired by the real life political activist Jimmy Gralton, who was deported from Ireland by authorities who were worried that he was stirring up trouble in County Leitrim. On arriving back from ten years in America, Jimmy returns to his home to find a dispirited and battered community, a result of the recent Irish Civil War. Jimmy takes it upon himself to re-open a community hall and hold dances and classes for the benefit of the locals. The local priest (played by Jim Norton) and other officials, however, object to Jimmy's actions and, in particular, his political views.

Now, the first thing to say about the film is that it wears its political opinions on its sleeve, which sometimes presents a problem. It is packed full with political opinions, debates and ideals and lacks a subtlety which would have made for a more multi-layered, deeper film. There's a sequence when Jimmy makes a rousing speech to the assembled community and shouts “we need to take control of our lives again!”. He references the stock market crash, the power of the elite and the inequality which is widespread. Loach may as well have held up a placard to the audience: “Note Parallels With Today After The Financial Crisis”. The whole film feels, in a way, a bit too axiomatic in its approach to its subject matter.

Barry Ward plays Jimmy with gusto and his relationship with old flame Oonagh (Simone Kirby) is convincing. The two stand-out performances, however, come from Jim Norton as the zealous Father Sheridan and Jimmy's mother, excellently played by Aileen Henry. The heartbreak of watching a mother lose her son for a second time was very affecting to watch and Henry's understated performance was fantastic. Norton's character, on the other hand, is rather ambiguous. He begins the film vehemently opposed to everything that Jimmy is and stands for and yet, by the end, is – if not sympathetic – rather more complimentary about certain aspects of Jimmy's character. It would have been nice had the film stuck to its guns and convictions when it came to the motivations of Father Sheridan but Norton, nonetheless, just about holds the whole thing together.

Jimmy's Hall is shot nicely, looks the part and has some great individual moments (especially musical scenes inside the hall) and is a pleasant watch. It screams Loach and screams its politics at the audience – not always a bad thing but a little nuance never goes amiss. 

Clapperboard Rating: * * *