Reviewing Movies

Based on an autobiographical novel by the playwright, author, and IRA Supporter Brendan Behan who died of alcoholism at 41 in 1964. Behan is played by then 30-year-old Sean Hatosy, an American Actor whose name I’d always miss-pronounced until last night—the accent is on “hat” the o is pronounced as a short e. The joys of the importation of foreign names into English.

As the movie begins we find Brendan strapping sticks of dynamite to his inner thighs. No word on whether Behan wore boxers or briefs but Hatosy definitely wears briefs. Whatever his choice of undergarment may I be forgiven for observing that I find this a rather ‘ballsy’ move and although Brendan makes it through customs on his trip to England he is captured soon afterward while assembling the bomb and sentenced as a 16-year-old offender to Borstal Prison for boys—the alternative would have been hanging. At Borstal he meets robbers, a rapist, a Canadian, several Jewish boys but he is the only Irishman. Fortunately for him the governor of the institution to which he is assigned is uniquely liberal in his outlook. There are walls but no barbed wire or locks but then the surrounding area has been cleared as this is 1939 and an invasion by Hitler is apprehended, the area is mined, and there is an army base just down the road. The other unique circumstance is the arrival of the Governor’s daughter, an artist who would rather be working in Paris—but it is occupied by Hitler.

Although the setting here is a prison and Brendan’s roommates are young criminals many of whom are likely to re-offend upon release and enter the adult prison system the violence, bullying, and intimidation to which such places are prone, although not glossed over, are not the subject of this film. Indeed, we are given the impression that Brendan can look after himself; he loses a prison-wide wrestling tournament only as a result of a moment’s inattention. What we see are the relationships that develop between the young men, their warders, and teachers, and above all Elizabeth, the governor’s daughter. It is the combination of these circumstances that leads a rebellious young man to a life in letters rather than a life of crime; the pity is that the bottle so shortened his life. Although this is not the kind of movie Rogers or Blockbuster is likely to stock I am thankful that it is one which Amazon makes available even if the price is steeper than I’d prefer to pay. Despite the subject matter this is a warm-hearted movie saddened only by the knowledge that Behan lived only a scant 20 years after the movie closes.