Chonaic mé The Guard le déanaí chomh maith le neart daoine eile ar fud na tíre. Is scannán bunaithe in Éirinn atá ann, rud nach bhfuil neamhchoitianta, ach an rud atá neamhchoitianta ná an stíl réalaíoch ach le rian an ghrinn go tréan ann.
Caithfidh mé a rá, thaitin an scannán go mór liomsa. Bhí Brendan Gleeson thar barr mar Gerry Boyle, níl aon cheist faoi sin, ach ag éisteacht le léirmheastóirí ar an raidió agus ar an teilifís, thug mé faoi deara nach raibh gach éinne den tuairim chéanna. Dár ndóigh, bíonn tuairimí difriúla ag lucht féachana gach scannán toisc gur ealaíon shuibiachtúil í an scannánaíocht, ach braithim nár tugadh an t-aitheantas ceart don scannán mar shaothar.
Deirtear gur scathán í an ealaíon ar shochaí na tíre agus aontaím leis sin, ach braithim nach bhfuil scannán eisithe le déanaí a chaitheann solas ar an tír mar atá sí faoi láthair. Taispeánann Gerry Boyle an taobh réalaíoch de phost an Gharda in áit tuaithe. Ní hamháin sin ach léirítear achmhainn an ghrinn atá ina thréith lárnach de mhuintir na tíre.
Is é an cleas is cliste atá in úsaid ag an stiúrthóir John McDonagh ná an dara carachtar a thabhairt isteach mar dhuine gorm in áit iarghúlta Ghaeltachta. Cuireann an scannán an lucht féachana ag machnamh mar gheall ar an mbearna mhór atá idir inniu agus fiche bliain ó shin nuair nach raibh tuiscint again ar shaibhreas cultúir agus nuair a bhí muintir na tíre seo imníoch agus aineolach faoi fháilte a chur roimh dhaoine nua sa tír.
Is mór an éacht atá bainte amach ag an scannán i mbealach eadrom greannmhar.
Is scríbhneoir agus léachtóir le Gaeilge í Siún Ní Dhuinn in UCD
I saw The Guard recently, along with many other people around the country. The film is based in Ireland, something which isn’t particularly rare, but what is uncommon is the realism, traced with dark humour.
I must say I really enjoyed it. Brendan Gleeson was fantastic in the lead role Sgt Gerry Boyle, but listening to reviews on radio and television, I noticed that not everyone was of the same opinion as me. Obviously, every member of the audience has a different opinion because film is a subjective art, but I do feel like it didn’t get enough recognition as a work.
It is said that art is a mirror held up to society and I agree with this, but I feel like there hasn’t been too many Irish films recently that reflect where we are now as a nation. Gerry Boyle illustrates the realistic side of the job of a guard in a rural area. Not only that but it also shows the unique sense of humour which is regarded as innately Irish.
The cleverest trick that director John McDonagh plays is bringing in the second lead character as a black person in a rural Gaeltacht (Irish speaking area). The film allows the audience to reflect on the gap between today’s society and where we were, say, 20 years ago when we didn’t have the understanding we do about cultural enrichment; when we as a nation were apprehensive and ignorant about welcoming new people into our country.
I feel this film has achieved a lot in a very light, funny and unassuming way.
Siún Ní Dhuinn is a writer and lecturer at UCD
