LOVE IS ALWAYS WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis), a boxer, is released from a Belfast prison after 14 years and manages to get in trouble with the IRA while rekindling his romance with Maggie (Emily Watson). The third movie director Jim Sheridan made with Day-Lewis was meticulously prepared, with the star spending several years in training to become an appropriately fit fighter. The screenplay focuses on the tragic fact that there used to be enough petty and hateful Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland for there to be no peace – but the twist is positive. This is a largely believable film about enemies coming together in the end for a common goal. The central romance is also quite moving.
1997-U.S.-Ireland-Britain. 113 min. Color. Produced by Jim Sheridan, Arthur Lappin. Directed by Jim Sheridan. Screenplay: Jim Sheridan, Terry George. Cinematography: Chris Menges. Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis (Danny Flynn), Emily Watson (Maggie), Brian Cox (Joe Hamill), Ken Stott, Gerard McSorley, Eleanor Methven.
Last word: “When Jim Sheridan rings you up and says [she does a Dublin accent, not to be confused with her Belfast one], ‘I’m making a film with Daniel Day-Lewis, would you be interested?’ you just say, ‘Ooh yes.’ […] [but it was] very tough – a lot of boxing, hard men and politics. I got a bit lonely.” (Watson, Independent)
