Wild Mountain Thyme

 Seen at the Star Cinema in Eaglehawk, VIC

Cecil says: Bea and I have been discussing options for where we should live in the long term, given our aversion for all things Brexit and for the current trends in Australian society, which seem little better than Britain in the current climate. New Zealand has been mooted if we decide to stay South, but Ireland is also a possibility, should we wish to stay nearer folk in Europe.

The opening scenes of Wild Mountain Thyme almost made my mind up for me: the beautiful, rugged, ocean coast of the west of Ireland, and I’ve never even been there yet (mind you, nor have I ever visited New Zealand yet..).

Rather as with Kiwis, I will have to get used to the accent, though, and I did struggle for a few scenes of this film (that might have been due to the sound system which isn’t always crystal clear in the Star, Eaglehawk). I couldn’t help wondering, though, if my problem with understanding also might have come from the fact that two of the lead actors – Emily Blunt and Christopher Walken – are not natural Irish brogue speakers.

The film also reminded me of just how important family is in Ireland – who marries who; who leaves what to who taking up more importance in a lot of people’s lives than the more global political issues I usually cast my vote on. And with absolutely no family ties to Ireland, we might have to choose carefully a part of Ireland which might be willing to accept two wandering cinema buffs looking for a safe haven.

This is basically a charming love story, although it was always only heading in one direction, but that didn’t matter, because the way it got there kept us entertained along the way. They even managed to have Don Draper from Mad Men (actor: John Hamm) playing the American cousin who almost got the inheritance himself after a father/son spat early on.

And it did take me back to past trips to Ireland, where an awful lot of time seemed to be spent in little pubs drinking Guinness and listening to folk music on a fiddle, so we might also have to get used to that unless we opt for one of Ireland’s metropolises like Dublin or Cork (but even there, I reckon the pub figures quite high in the list of recreational activities).

Actually my favourite part of the film was the brief dancing scene: not the little girl’s attempts at ballet, but Emily Blunt’s adult leap into ballet moves, outside her cottage wearing farming boots and sinking into the gravel. There was an elegance to those scenes which beat any other for me in this film.

***    

Bea says: Rather nice Irish pastoral love story of two young people growing up on adjacent farms in rural Ireland who slowly find each other. The title is taken from the traditional song of the same name, and naturally the course of true love does not run smoothly but all is ultimately well. Much beautiful scenery and some nice music too, including performances of the title track. A lovely few hours of pure escape, particularly as we saw this on the sofas of the wonderful Star cinema in Eaglehawk, on a Sunday afternoon, cup of tea in hand.
***1/2