The Year That Was

The glaring parallels between the themes explored in the film and the war convulsing the nation may have dampened audiences' enthusiasm at the box office for a bout of soul searching, which if true would be an immense shame. Jordan's deceptively simple story of what happens to a young woman who's near perfect life is upended by a random brutal assault was a fascinating film.

Belfast-born director Terry George also had the consequences of revenge in mind when he unveiled Reservation Road. A gripping thriller about the difficulty of forgiveness, the film opens on a beautiful September evening, when a Connecticut college professor (Phoenix), his wife (Jennifer Connelly), their daughter and their 10-year-old son all stop at a gas station on Reservation Road.

There, in one sickening instant, a hit and run driver takes their son from them. Dwight Arno (Mark Ruffalo) plays the ne'er-do-well father of a young boy - and the driver of the fatal SUV - and in the aftermath of the accident he panics and speeds away. Haunted by the tragedy, both fathers react in unexpected ways as a dangerous reckoning looms between them, and they are forced to make the hardest choices of their lives.

George told the Irish Voice, "The film is about the futility of revenge. It's about the way people can demonize the opposition, creating a monster that allows you to attack it. It's about the recognition in Joaquin's character of how futile revenge is, it's about what he has done to his own head in creating this monster."

Although it didn't fare well in theatres, it was hailed by the critics and proved itself a worthy successor to George's previous outing, Hotel Rwanda. Always an immensely subtle director, George didn't need to underline how timely the theme was. Our nightly news broadcasts are crowded with international revenge dramas, and the same intense feelings of anger and resolve that animate his film animate our world.

This year Saoirse Ronan, the 13-year-old emerging Irish actress, gave a surprisingly strong performance in director Joe Wright's Atonement, playing the central character in this dark drama of romance and betrayal.

Acknowledging the young Co. Carlow actress's independent streak, her co-star Keira Knightley told the Irish Voice, "I'm often asked what advice I'd give her. I'd never dream of giving Saoirse Ronan advice. I take advice from her." Ronan is up for a Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress later this month.

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Nster.com