The turn of the millennium was supposed to usher new utopian era of peace after even the bloodiest and most complicated ethnic and sectarian conflicts in Europe came to end through the efforts of American military and diplomacy. This sentiment was embraced by Hollywood, at least judging by the way the recently ended Troubles in Northern Ireland were treated in An Everlasting Piece, 2000 comedy directed by Barry Levinson. The plot is set in 1980s Belfast and it starts when Colm (played by Barry McEvoy), young Catholic man who works as barber in psychiatric hospital meets his colleague George (played by Brian F. O’Byrne), a Protestant. Despite sectarian differences two men share love of poetry and quickly become friends and the fate would soon give them opportunity to make money together. One of their patients is Scalper (played by Billy Connolly), once the wealthiest and most successful wig salesman in whole Northern Ireland. Colm and George join efforts to obtain the treasured clients’ list from Scalper and later use it to start their own wig-selling business. Being of different religion serves them well, because both Colm and George might risk their lives if wondering into the wrong part of the city. Business starts very well, but they are soon faced with competition that might take away their share of the market. Even worse are complications when two of them get orders from IRA and British Army. Colm and George are soon faced with serious moral challenges that might end their friendship and even lead them to prison or death.
Northern Ireland setting looked odd for Barry Levinson, director whose many works have been inspired by his native Baltimore. He joined the project after meeting Barry McEvoy, actor and writer who had found the inspiration for the script in his father’s adventures as wig salesman during the most critical phases of the Troubles. The plot of the film is relatively thin and filled with cliches, but McEvoy uses a lot of humour to compensate for the bleak world of religiously divided city in which his protagonists live. Levinson, on the other hand, has some issues with pacing and An Everlasting Piece looks longer and slower than it should have been. On the other hand, many of the film’s flaws are compensated with good cinematography by Seamus Deasy, couple of funny scenes and very good cast made of experienced British and Irish actors. Famous Scottish comedian Billy Conolly is effective in the role of Scalper and same, to a degree, can be said of Anna Friel in the role of Colm’s girlfriend. Levinson’s film, however, turned into massive flop and the next decades of 21st Century proved to be more violent than many have hoped at its beginning. Although the conflict depicted in An Everlasting Piece represents the thing of the past, humanistic tone and message advocating tolerance, finding common ground and settling differences in peaceful manner are something this world would need right now.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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