The Irish rovers

A chump in Trojan Eddie

by JOANNE LATIMER

As sectarian violence escalates in Northern Ireland this week, leading up to the Orange Order parades on July 12, it's hard to imagine how Trojan Eddie fits into the world view of life on the Emerald Isle. Director Gilles Mackinnon decided not to milk the easy sentiment attached to the Troubles, and his Trojan Eddie has nothing to do with the Irish Question. That's not surprising when you look at Mackinnon's last film set there, The Playboys. But it's unusual for a filmmaker not to get some political digs in--whatever their stripe--when Ireland is on the table.

Mackinnon isn't into overt politicism, preferring the smaller live stories of outsiders and local characters who make for a colourful yarn. Trojan Eddie (Stephen Rea) is Mackinnon's anti-hero, a fast-talking peddler who operates out of his van. Eddie has been partially accepted into a pack of so-called "travellers," who are more like modern-day gypsies living in trailer parks on the outskirts of Southern towns. The Godfather of the travellers, John Power (Richard Harris), gave Eddie a job after Eddie finished time in jail for a botched robbery, and now he's working as a floating auctioneer for booty that the travellers steal.

While trying to get the down payment together to rent a shop in town, Eddie gets caught up in a double cross between warring clans of travellers and Power gets jilted by his new, young bride. Yes, there's a suitcase full of money involved and yes, there are homicidal maniacs sent to retrieve it. While Eddie tries to avoid the suspicions of the travellers, he looks after his two daughters, and nurses a crush on his cruel and negligent ex-wife. So as chumps go, Eddie is first class. But Mackinnon never bothers to make Eddie very likable. Sure, almost everyone else in the film is less likable, but that doesn't automatically make Eddie sympathetic. Stephen Rea does his best, but his hang-dog Eddie can't carry the film. That's where Richard Harris comes in. He plays up Power's broken heart, making him a vulnerable patriarch for the big screen. More touches like this would've helped the film. Mackinnon missed the warmth he put in The Playboys, leaving Trojan Eddie flat for the final con job.

Trojan Eddie opens this Friday, July 11 at the Cinéma du Parc. See repertory listings for showtimes

Screening Ireland

When movies about Ireland and its people come out, controversy is never far behind. A few recent examples:

In the Name of the Father Jim Sheridan's 1993 movie was based on the book by Gerry Conlon, which recounted the true story of some Belfast youths who were set up on terrorist charges by British police. Critics cried foul, arguing that the film was one-sided. The trouble with that argument was that the film was exhaustively researched and factual.

Michael Collins Liam Neeson starred as the legendary Irish political figure, who's either a hero or an anti-hero, depending which side you're on. This sympathetic portrayal of Collins was even brought up as an issue of debate in Britain's House of Commons.

The Devil's Own The reports about fighting between Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford grew so loud that by its release date, no one seemed to know exactly what The Devil's Own was about. One clueless person was Princess Di herself, who ended up taking the kids to see it one weekend. Public outcry was soon heard: what about the casting of Brad Pitt as a semi-virtuous IRA type? Di pleaded ignorance, saying she had no idea about the film's political overtones.

Some Mother's Son Helen Mirren plays a mother whose son is on a hunger strike to protest British intervention in Ireland. Though Mirren is initially apolitical, as the film moves on she realizes there can be no neutral stance. Some Mother's Son illustrates that there's a difference between being pro-IRA and anti-British.

--Matthew Hays