Undescribable Perfection

Too much of everything

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

the atmosphere, the predictable end, Cal as a kind of new Raskolnikov, the love story , the cinematography, all, each are pieces of a beautiful film about pain, past and regrets. and this is the explanation why "Cal" remains, against the errors, a gem . because it reflects, in delicate-precise manner, a state. ambiguous, profound, Irish at whole, shadow of deep solitude and the illusion to escape from yourself. and, sure, the chance to have two great actors in the lead roles is one of the good things. but its force is result of the belief in the second chance. and in the forgiveness who could change everything. in essence, it is the film of John Lynch who gives a splendid Cal. but, in same measure, it is one of films for remember. not only the traces of the past. but the price of its errors.

It's interesting to see Irish reviewers' takes on movies like this. I haven't seen Cal in years, but I still listen to the beautiful soundtrack by Mark Knopfler. I put it on this morning, which is why I thought to look up the movie here.I remember being captivated by the drama of this young kid in over his head, both with the IRA and in his romance with an older woman. The scenes had a raw grittiness that felt very real to me when I saw it in the theater, back in the mid-1980s.So it's surprising to me to hear the film described by at least one reviewer here as both unlikely and clichéd. And I can't argue with that, in terms of history or culture or politics, because I wasn't there. Anyone who lived in Belfast at the time would surely have a more realistic view of the IRA and of Irish culture than I do.But this morning, my young son looked up when that first song came on, and gave me a look, like, "What in the world is this?" After the song ended, he said, "Dad, it's so beautiful, it almost hurts." That's how I always felt about Cal. I'm a sucker for anything that's both beautiful and sad. That's how I remember the movie.

This is a slow burning romantic drama set against the backdrop of The Troubles in Northern Ireland . There's very few satisfying films that use the backdrop of The Troubles as its theme THE DEVIL'S OWN is a travesty . RESURRECTION MAN is low budget underdeveloped torture porn . Both SOME MOTHER'S SON and IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER are based on true events but suffer from artistic licence by the producers . Along with HARRY'S GAME this movie is probably the best movie on The Troubles in my opinion and it did receive much critical acclaim when it was released in the mid 1980s . Sadly when I came to this page it had less than 1,000 votes and a grand total of six people had bothered to comment on it which is a pity since it deserves to be better rememberedAt the core of the story is a love affair between a recently widowed librarian Marcella and a teenager called Cal who is a recent recruit to the IRA . Some people might claim this is an unlikely love affair but I think were to brutally about human sexuality men would confess to being sexually attracted towards older women while women are sexually attracted to younger men and it's only social conditioning that has stopped these type of love affairs becoming more common . It should also be pointed out this sets up the mystery of plot where the audience wonder who it was who pulled the trigger and murdered Marcella's husbandOne thing is unlikely and that is the way the IRA want to keep Cal in the organisation . In the early 1970s with internment and Bloody Sunday the IRA didn't find recruiting young men from Republican ghettos a problem . The problem started with new recruits having to plant bombs that often killed and mutilated innocent civilians both protestant and catholic and the recruits finding themselves wanting no part of this violence so they'd be released by the IRA . This was entirely down to practicalities - an unwilling volunteer in the IRA could be easily recruited by RUC special branch and MI5 as an informer The dialogue does suffer from blackly comical absurdity which is no doubt deliberate such as the robbing of a cinema " How'd it go ? " " What ? " " The f-ckin' picture did ya get the money ? " " Oh aye shaking in her hi heels . Whose side it this time ? I said ya think I'm working for the other side ya stupid b*tch " There's also the bizarre nature of an IRA gunman being a mod and committing acts of Republican terrorism while wearing patches dedicated to The Jam on his jacket . One can visualise him attending IRA meetings while wearing a parka emblazoned by Union flags with hilarious results All in all this is a very good drama featuring the Troubles as its backdrop . Some people might be put off down to the fact that there's little incident but that's to forget it's a human drama rather than a thriller and is intelligently written and superbly played by the cast which makes it possibly the best of the films featuring the Troubles

'Cal' deals with a subject that has been history for quite a long time by now: the violence in Northern Ireland between Protestants and Roman Catholics.Its plot is about a young Roman Catholic man who gets drawn in the terrorist IRA movement. He does not want that, but is too weak to resist. Of course, after having been involved in some violent acts, he cannot get out anymore. The tragedy is even more accentuated by a simultaneous love affair.This film just doesn't show any flaw. First of all, there is the magnificent acting of female lead Helen Mirren. Supported well by plenty of other good acting. The quality of the shooting. The bitter-sweet undertone of its tragic plot throughout its entire length. And, most of all, its setting against an Irish decor that was very actual in 1984.I happened to be in Dublin that year, and remember well the many sold-out performances of 'Cal' in the local cinema's. As well as the crowds of people queuing outside to get their tickets for the next show.