Jimmy's Hall
Dir: Ken Loach
2014
*****
I saw Jimmy's Hall at my favorite local Cinema (100 year old Phoenix) and was lucky enough to go to a screening that was followed by a Q&A session with legendary director Ken Loach. It was fascinating to hear him talk about the film and the politics at that point in time in rural Ireland. He didn't need to explain the obvious similarities between the social atrocities committed then to those that exist now, those are clear, but to hear the true and simple story of Jimmy Gralton and his community Hall truly inspires to act against it. Ken Loach asked at the end of the film that we remember Jimmy now 80 odd years after his death and a member of the audience added that sometimes art wins out and 80 years after the records of Jimmy's story, life and death were purposely destroyed, he can now finally be remembered and will indeed have the last laugh. To dismiss the film as just a load of socialist propaganda would be to show how ignorant the right really are (still). Even the Pope can't deny the injustices made by the Church, although he already kind of has. This film is about people and people's freedom (real freedom, not the imitation of that the neoconservatives and republicans harp on about). Watch with an open mind and judge for yourself but remember, it's all true. Another brilliant film from one of the best directors of all time.