Customer Reviews

Into the West [VHS]

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Into the West" is an underrated jewel of Irish filmmaking that follows a rather unconventional storyline: a down-and-out father, Papa Reilly, (Gabriel Byrne), leads a miserable existence in a Dublin slum along with his two young sons. The poverty and bleakness is overwhelming and not what one would expect from a Disney film (which it is). Starving children sing on streetcorners for money, fathers drink away the welfare money, and education and sanitary conditions seem alien. This is not the Ireland of "The Quiet Man" or even "The Secret of Roan Inish."

Papa Reilly is a traveller, or gypsy, although he has forsaken the old ways after his wife's death. His father-in-law tries to convince him in vain to return to the roads, but Reilly stands firm, insolently refusing all help. His two sons Tito and Ossie fall in love with a mysterious white horse that has followed their grandfather's caravan, and the two claim Tir na Nog as their own (but the horse had claimed them first). The lines between fantasy and reality are blurred, and this is not just a children's film, nor is it solely for an older audience. It is hybrid of mythology and magic much like "The Secret of Roan Inish," another Irish fairytale of a film that also dealt with magical animals (in that case seals).

The rest of the movie requires suspension of disbelief, including several improbable chase scenes, but the heartwarming stories of the two boys coming to terms with their past (their mother's death, their father's alcoholism) and forging stronger bonds of brotherhood, and the grieving father and widower coming to terms with his loss and resolving to start a new life with his sons as the king of the travellers once more, truly make this a touching and unforgettable film.

The scenery is beautiful, from the bleak, grey Dublin slums to the gently sloping western mountains, spectacular craggy cliffs and crashing seaspray. The soundtrack is a blend of Irish music old and new, with contributions from Black 47, the Rankin Family and Clannad. Patrick Doyle ("Shipwrecked") composed the score, which uses Irish instruments and haunting Irish Gaelic vocals to build atmosphere.

There are several tense moments during action sequences which may prove frightening to younger children, but nothing overly objectionable in "Into The West." Younger children may find it a bit slow and hard to follow, but patience is truly a virtue in the case of this magical film.

In Irish mythology, Tir Na Nog is the home of eternal youth. Which is fitting, because "Into the West" is a movie for those of us who remain young-at-heart. That may sound cheesy, but my 6-year-old brother couldn't sit still long enough to pay attention the first time we watched this movie. My sister and myself, who were in our teens when it was first released on video, were completely captivated. In fact, the only thing remotely wrong w/ this movie is the way it was marketed when it hit theaters. The trailers didn't provide a clue as to what this film was about, or the magic it held. The 2 young boys are marvelous actors, and Gabriel Byrne is very good as their loving, if miserable father. The lyricism and fairytale quality to the film are spellbinding, and the ending may very well leave you tearing up. For a full evening of Irish folklore, watch this in a double-bill w/ "The Secret of Roan Inish."

We first rented this movie for my 5 year old daughter, not knowing what to expect, but we knew she liked horses. We rented this movie perhaps 10 times since; she is 9 and instead of renting it again, I decided to buy it for her. This is more than a movie about a horse. it is a juxaposition of the past and present, the harsh reality of modern life and the mythology that gives life meaning. Whether Irish, English, or American, you will like this movie, and after watching it once, you will likely have to watch it again to convince yourself you understood what you saw.

This film came to our local theaters advertised as a "children's film", but it wasn't- not in my opinion...It is, for me, a tender, sometimes very funny, bittersweet, breathtakingly lovely film (in setting as well as in content)...a romantically magical adventure taking place in rural Ireland-of two young gyspy boys and a horse on a journey - encouraged by a beloved gypsy elder - to venture off to a land far away, and not really of this world...And their dad, former gypsy, denouncing his title, separates from the gypsies, taking with him his boys - to a life in a tenement project...he is a wounded heart...healing...then reunion. the boys starring in the film are not "actors", and are fabulous...Gabriel Byrne is incredible...i hope i haven't written too much! The Devlins sing a beautiful song, other artists on the soundtrack, too - a good soundtrack - please see this film!

This movie has a subtle romance, near-violence (but really no violence), humor, adventure, touching memories, kids' antics, a supernatural horse, and . . . well, all the ingredients of a first-class film. I've shown this to my English classes many times. And it always intrigues me fully!
A movie with everything--even a fairly close parallel with the spiritual principles Paul Twitchell wrote about so clearly.
A movie for everyone.

I love this film. Although I originally rented it for my horse crazy daughter, I have watched it many times and always it makes me smile. It is a tale of Irish traveller boys who overcome all for the love of a horse and with a child-like, innocent sense of justice. There are sad parts, and scary parts and some teaching points regarding alcohol, loss, prejudice and acceptance. I highly recommend this film for the horse crazy and those who love a good tale presented well!

I think into the West is a fantastic family film for all ages.
Its a film that touches your heart and makes you laugh and cry and recommend this film as a classic and is a must have to add to a DVD collection.

I and my children loved this movie, however I'd like to caution parents who have smaller/sensitive/impressionable children. The movie has quite a few violent spots and the "authority figures" display a LOT of bigotry. The bigotry the police have towards the gypsies is prevalent throughout the entire movie and there are some spots where they brutalize the children's father as well as the horse. If your children are sensitive towards animal suffering or physical violence, you might want to view the movie by yourself first and then make sure you sit with them or skip those parts.

Overall, great movie -- just take care with the viewing.

Someone, I've forgotten who, was reported to have reacted to the death of President Kennedy with the words "To be Irish is to know that the world will break your heart." This is true, but it is also true that to be Irish is to know that the world is not always as it seems. This is a story which resonates with both sentiments. The harsh contrast between the fantasy worlds of cowboys and Indians and Celtic mythology and the heartbreaking ugliness of life in council-house Dublin, the greed which can arise in the new "Celtic Tiger" Ireland and even the friendly but harsh life of the travellers make this tale of two small boys and their father and the effect on them of a white horse resound with mythic overtones. This truly beautiful horse belongs to the realm of Celtic myth, a classic example of a shape-changer, in this case very benign. That the horse is more than it seems is delicately conveyed by clever camera shots as well as by the storyline. If you fell in love with "The Secret of Roan Inish" you will probably like this, I certainly did.

A very good children's as well adult's movie. Especially if you believe in magic and a mother's love. I would recommend this movie to anyone.