With the passing of the famine, Ireland now knew fulfillment. The love story is gripping enough, but the film really comes into its element when the famine gets rolling 90-minutes into the plot. Amazing advances in digital technology allow the audience to see millions of potatoes shrivel up and turn to dust while villagers slowly waste away into skin and bone. One shot shows a single drop of rain falling from the sky while the camera follows it all the way down until it hits a potato spud. Of course, director Woo also gets in his trademark shots - slow motions of villagers throwing potatoes into barrels.
White doves fly and perch on the wasting crops.
Sometimes Woo's directing style comes at the expense of historical accuracy that has caused controversy in some circles. However, such films are made as more of a platform for historical discussion rather than a definitive historical statement. Let there be no doubt that popular action directors should be able to tackle important historical events in their films. On second thought that could never happen. Not even Hollywood would come up with an idea that silly.