Jimmy’s Hall begins with images of New York in the roaring twenties, the building boom of ‘the Big Apple’ before the bust of the Wall Street crash. Arriving home in 1932 from a depressed America to rural Leitrim is handsome renegade Jimmy Gralton (Barry Ward). Back to his mother’s farm with his worldly possessions on the back of a cart. Back to an Irish Free State desperately trying to heal the scars of the Civil War. “What will you do with yourself Jimmy?” he is asked by a friendly neighbour, “I want the quiet life” he replies.
However, Gralton is destined to live in sunshine not in shadow. He returns not with gold in his pocket but Red revolution in his head. Gralton is committed to help the poverty stricken become comrades and fight for land and freedom. Ten years earlier, he had built a dance hall on his land where young people came to learn, to dream and dance to a different tune. But then Gralton was forced to flee, as the country split in two and he fell on the wrong side of political divide.
Now he’s back, the local girls demand the good times to return. “We want to dance Jimmy”
Jimmy’s Hall in the hands of a lesser director may have become just another fluffy piece of paddywhackery but Ken Loach brings all his integrity to the dance. Powerful performances throughout frame a fresh and thoughtful look at hidden Irish history. Due to his failing eyesight, this may well may be 77 year old Loach’s last film, but whether you agree with his politics or not, you have to admire his determined vision.
