Product: Ryan's Daughter (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2006)
Rating: 5.0
This Movie appreciates the Irish "Troubles"
If you appreciate the oppression and abuse of the Irish by the British occupation,"The Troubles", you will better understand this movie. In 1970 I loved this movie for the beautiful landscape, western Ireland with a focus on the Dingle Pennisula, and the performance of Robert Mitchum who deserved an academy award or at least a nomination. But with my present fair knowledge of the historical resistance to the British rule in Ireland I appreciate the details and better understand the plot of "Ryan's Daugther." Rosy Ryan, played by Sarah Miles, is a rather spoiled young woman and daughter of the fairly affluent local pub owner, played wonderfully by Leo McKern. She decides she wants more from life and seeks and subsequently convinces Charles the village teacher (Robert Mitchum)to marry her. With the knowledge of the intense opposition of the Irish toward British occupation it is understandable how the village people turn against their own when she develops an emotional and sexual relationship with a young British officer (played by Christopher Jones). The central plot is love of person, Rosy for the British officer, Charles for Rosy, Ryan for his daughter, and the Irish for their country. The secondary plot is betrayal of person and of country (I leave these betrayls for you to see in the movie).The village mute idiot, played by John Miles (who received an academy award for supporting actor) ties all the people and events together with his naive actions. This is a great film which is relevant today as the news announces another potential for the British to withdraw its rule from Ireland. Don't hold you breath. Although the actions or the present Irish people seem less intense than in 1916 the setting for this movie, their feelings may not be. They want the Brits out of Ireland. But the British remain with one excuse after another. See this movie and I hope you will better understand as I did of the conflict "The Troubles" that the Irish have with British rule.The two disc set enhances the information behind the film and is worth the extra price.