In the Name of the Father movie review and analysis in film criticism class for ESL students based on the English Immersion Program with questions and vocabulary
In the Name of the Father movie trailer
In the Name of the Father movie review
“In the Name of the Father” is a 1993 biographical crime drama film based on the true story of the Guildford Four. Gerry Conlon, a petty criminal, is wrongly convicted alongside his father of an IRA bombing in Guildford, England. The film follows their struggle for justice as they spend years imprisoned for a crime they didn’t commit.
Directed by Jim Sheridan, the film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Gerry Conlon and delivers a powerful performance portraying the harrowing ordeal of a man fighting for his freedom and his father’s.
“In the Name of the Father” is not just a legal drama but a story of resilience, the complex relationship between father and son, and the fight against a flawed justice system. The film garnered critical acclaim, received seven Oscar nominations, and brought international attention to the Guildford Four case.
Questions for discussion
- Who is wrongly accused in “In the Name of the Father” and what challenges does he face in prison?
- The film explores themes of injustice and perseverance. Can you describe a scene that shows one of these themes?
- Many real-life events inspired the film. After watching it, do you think it’s important for movies to tell true stories? Why or why not?
1. Gerry Conlon and his father Giuseppe Conlon, along with Paul Hill, Carol Richardson, and Paddy Armstrong, as well as the family of Anne Maguire, known as the Guildford Four and Maguire Seven, were wrongly accused of a crime they did not commit. The main character, Gerry, faced numerous challenges during his 15 years of imprisonment, including both physical and mental abuse. The consequences of his mental health persisted even after his case was dismissed.
2. The perseverance and persistent hope of Gerry and his father, Giuseppe, and above all their lawyer, Gareth Peirce, is truly remarkable. For example, Gareth dedicated 10 years to working on and investigating this case. Even after his father unfairly died in custody, Gerry fought back and became even more determined to prove himself innocent.
3. I enjoy watching films that are based on a true event and narrate an inspirational story. They can inform many people about what happened and what we can learn from their story.
Thank you for your thorough review on the film, In the Name of the Father. You didn’t need to respond to all the 3 questions, though. Answering one of the 3 questions would be sufficient.
I also found the film inspiring and interesting, especially when I realized that what I was watching had actually occurred before.
Please kindly answer at least one of the three questions raised in the discussion section of this post.