Some Mother's Son (1996)

reviewed by
Walter Frith


                             SOME MOTHER'S SON
               A film review by Walter Frith
                Copyright 1997 Walter Frith

The makers of 1993's 'In the Name of the Father' have re-united for this project fashioned in the same manner involving the Irish Republican Army. Helen Mirren and Fionnula Flanagan portray Kathleen Quigley and Annie Higgins, two mothers whose sons went on a hunger strike to protest treatment in prison under British rule. Their sons Gerald Quigley and Frank Higgins (Aidan Gillen and David O'Hara) are associates of Bobby Sands whose name was made famous around the world when he went on a hunger strike in prison in 1981 and died. Bobby Sands is played by John Lynch who played Paul Hill in 'In the Name of the Father' and was one of the Guilford Four sent to prison for bombings they never committed. 'Some Mother's Son' is directed by by Terry George who co-wrote 'In the Name of the Father' with Jim Sheridan and the two of them collaborate on this film which is not as good as 'In the Name of the Father' but it is compelling and well made and has historical importance in conjunction with events still being played out to this day by the British government and the IRA. Helen Mirren recieved an Oscar nomination two years ago for 'The Madness of King George' and could find herself nominated again for this movie. Her character is one wrestling not only with the will of her son and the laws of Britain but with her own conscience and her compassion for her family is uncompromising and this is a richly textured and multi-dimensional job by Mirren for what is the best role of her career.

OUT OF 5> * * * 1/2

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