Review of In the Name of the Father (1993) by Maria S — 28 Mar 2009

This is an emotionally charged film that brought me in and forced me to wrestle, along with the characters, with my own beliefs and feelings about human-mediated justice. The film is based on the true story of Gerry Conlon of the Guildford Four who were wrongfully accused of bombing a pub in London. The Guildford Four and others spent years in prison before withheld evidence came forward that the British police made them scapegoats under political pressure.

The film brings the viewer into the middle of the mess as we follow around Gerry Conlon and how he deals with his circumstances and a life that has put him into this unfair position. The movie deals with themes of honesty, integrity, faith and hope. It raises questions about the possibility of true justice in times of fear and anxiety. It also offers insight into the role the individual in the midst of a system on whatever side may play in challenging or perpetuating such a system.

The movie seems very relevant to our own time and place in America with the war on terrorism. The only downsides I found with this movie were that while the acting was mostly great it had moments that felt inconsistent. Also, the directions chosen to develop the plot didn't always seem the best for the sake of the plot. Other than that the movie is highly recommended.