Broken Harvest

Starring:Colin Lane, Marian Quinn, Niall O'Brien, Darren McHugh, Joy Florish, Joe Jeffers, Jim Queally, Christie O'Sullivan, Ãine O'Sullivan, Michael Crowley (VII), Pete O'Reilly, Michael Crowley (II)
Director: Maurice O'Callaghan
Studio: Vci Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

A Classic Tale of Irish Woe
T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E photography--"washed out"
Admirable Attempt to Depict Realities of Irish Life
Finally, Ireland with no leprechauns or terrorists!

Broken Harvest
Starring: Colin Lane , Marian Quinn , Niall O'Brien , Darren McHugh , and Joy Florish
Director: Maurice O'Callaghan
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00005AAA8
Release Date: 2001-04-24

Description

A moving and dramatic story set in Ireland and New York; BROKEN HARVEST traces an old feud between two neighbors through seventy years of Irish history. Aurthur O'Leary (Colin Lane) and his neighbor, Josie (Niall O'Brien), fought each other in the Irish Civil War and fought for the love of Catherine (Marian Quinn). In the 1950s the old wounds are reopened unwittingly by Arthur's son, Jimmy (Darren McHugh). The eruption that follows threatens the stability of the whole community with clear echoes of the Northern Ireland conflict. Bonus Features: Original Theatrical Trailer| Commentary by director Maurice O'Callaghan| Cast Bio. Specs: DVD5; Dolby Digital Stereo; 98 minutes; Color; 1.77:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - PG; Year - 1994; SRP - $9.99.

Customer Reviews:

A Classic Tale of Irish Woe.......2006-12-05

"Broken Harvest" will in time be a Classic. Despite its meagre budget and poor direction, it tells the tale of the bitterness that surrounded the aftermath of the Irish Civil War with blunt precision. The main players in Irish life of the time are depicted with little embellishment, the Priest, the School Teacher and the Bank Manager.
The main characters, Arthur O'Leary (Colin Lane) and his wife Catherine (Marian Quinn) deliver a convincing portrayal of many middle class marriages of that time, a time when a woman stood by her man through thick and thin. 1950's Ireland was a troubled time to raise a family on a smallholding and poor Arthur O'Leary, despite his best efforts is not up to the task.
The movie captures all the emotions of the time and its stunning shots of breathtaking scenes of the Irish countryside are but a glimpse of what the Irish of today were to finally realise.
Colin Lane as Arthur gives a masterful performance as the Republican who can't forgive the likes of Free-Stater Josie (Niall O'Brien) for their betrayal, as he sees it, in settling for a 26 county Ireland and leaving the 6 counties of the North under British rule.
The movie is hard hitting and many of the emotions portrayed so well still live on today. Classic!

T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E photography--"washed out".......2006-08-31

"Broken Harvest" is a decent movie, shot for about $1 million, but the whole film is "amateur night" because of the T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E photography. It is surprising too because the cinematographer, Jack Conroy, also shot "My Left Foot." However, the photography spoils the whole movie.

Aiden Quinn's sister Marian is lovely as "Kate," but even she is dulled by the film. Having spent time with Adam Adams before he died, I know that a movie is nothing without a good cinematographer, and that decision is basic. Unfortunately, this film suffers and dies--and is truly amateurish--because of that.

Exquisite scenes of the beautiful Irish countryside are "washed out." Why take the time, expense, and trouble to create anything if such attention to detail is totally ignored, seemingly? This film is little better than a "home movie," I am sorry to say. So much work done by so many people, killed by the bad photography.

Despite director Maurice O'Callaghan's comments about the need for time to obtain "a more polished product," that is nonsense. The amateur photography destroyed this film from the very first frame--and even its credits are amateurish. There is nothing wrong with the acting, although it is a bit "wooden" at times. Surely, the cinematographer will be remembered for having killed this film, I am sorry to say.

Colin Lane, as Kate's husband "Arthur," reminds one of a soft-spoken Gary Cooper or Clint Eastwood. If the movie had been more professionally done, it might have provided some "legs" for him. Niall O'Brien, as "Josey," is a fine character actor whose talents are wasted too, unfortunately. If I were the director--who seems to have directed only this film, which was very personal for his large family and him--I would be embarrassed and saddened by the final product. It was hardly worth the effort, yet with decent photography it might have had lasting value.

Admirable Attempt to Depict Realities of Irish Life.......2001-09-22

This is, to quote from a character in "The Devil's Own", an Irish story, not an American one. That is to say, it doesn't have a happy ending and the beginning and middle aren't all that jolly, either. However, I found it to be an engrossing story of the lingering effects of the Irish Civil War, a war that did much more harm to Ireland than the War of Independence did. As they say, the Irish have long memories and so do the characters in Broken Harvest, especially the father of the narrator, who cannot really move on beyond the republican passions of the 1920's. In showing the effect of this inability on his family and friends the movie helps us understand some of the intense emotions and divisions that are still abroad in Ireland today. I'm not sure Americans with little knowledge of Ireland's history will underestand fully what drives these characters but if you are familiar with the Civil War period, this story is well done, realistically presented and captures the essential tragedy underlying normal life in small-town Ireland of the 1950's.

Finally, Ireland with no leprechauns or terrorists!.......2001-05-06

This is an interesting film that starts with a flashback to the Ireland of the 50's - a 50's alien to most of us. No TV's, little electricity, rudimentary radio. Ireland was strictly agrarian and suffering the drain of its people to America - especially New York, referred to as "the other Ireland". The adults of that time had lived through 'the troubles' of the Black and Tans and then the further horror of Civil War - with the 'Free-Staters' (Michael Collins followers) against the 'Republicans' (DeValera's contingent). It must have been horrible, though all that we're allowed to see is the reflection of the horror - much as the boy Jimmy O'Leary sees in his poor but proud father, Arthur's dealings with his prosperous Uncle Josie McCarthy who owns the farm next door, who loved and still loves Jimmy's mother. Arthur was a Republican and Josie a Free-Stater. Americans who expect to be 'told' every minute detail of explanation for characters' pasts may not like this film - but that's what makes it so good. We never know the full extent of that horror, but we come to appreciate and grow from that point; what the young man Jim finally achieves upon his return to the land of his father. The sound and lighting are a bit off and some of the actors are wooden but that adds to the niceness of the story, which is, as are the characters, rough around the edges.

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