Customer Reviews

Nephew

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I caught this movie one day on cable, intrigued by the idea of an African-American man returning to his Irish mother's homeland. It would be easy for this film to use the idea of a young black man coming to Ireland and the sort of upheval that might bring, but instead the film focuses on the tortured family history of the characters. In fact, the color of the newphew's skin is barely mentioned (twice I think). Hill Harper as the nephew, Chad, and Donal McCann as his uncle Tony shine in this film. Their performances are dramatic, tortured, and heart-wrenching at times. The rest of the all Irish cast, including Pierce Brosnan, are wonderful, as well. If you're looking for a great drama featuring wonderful acting and the beautiful landscape of Ireland, then check out this film.

"The Nephew" is a concise story about the arrival of "the nephew" on a small island off the Irish coast after his mother has died in New York City. [His father died when he was a child, and is not an issue in the story.] There are some racial issues addressed, but they are not the focus of the story, as racial differences in Ireland and the U.K. do not elicit the same reactions as in America. The focus of the story is really what happened more than twenty years earlier, when Karen, "the nephew's" mother, left the island for America, despite her passionate love affair with the character played by Pierce Brosnan, who has not heard from her in all that time.

The "uncle," Uncle Tony, is Karen's brother, a lonely, silent and bitter man, who cannot deal with the memories brought to the surface--although it is plain that those memories were never very far beneath it--by the presence of Chad Egan-Washington, his nephew. The movie is filled with wonderful "characters": Tony's farm worker, who is also a singer; the "twins," two of the most precious children ever to inhabit a movie screen; and others too numerous to mention. I have also refrained from mentioning some of the players, as to do so would reveal some of the secrets before they ripen. Although Pierce Brosnan is given "star billing," he actually plays a "character role" here, and to his credit, he does not make the movie his own; as indeed, it really belongs to Chad and Uncle Tony--both of whom give superb performances--as well as to the absent Karen.

This is a short movie, but a jewel, nonetheless; and one which can be watched many times in order to capture all of its beauty. That beauty includes a magnificent Irish score, and a background of countryside and ocean of such loveliness that you will never tire of seeing it. The best part is that neither the countryside nor the story overwhelms the other. If I could give this movie six stars, I would do so!

This is not a subject I've seen dealt with before. Pierce Brosnan stars in this story about an Irish man's sister who runs off to America and marries a black man. The woman has a son and when she dies, he has no where to go but to Ireland to live with his uncle. He carries his mother's ashes with him. The people in the Irish town find him and oddity but some folks take to him immediately. It appears that black people are not well liked in Ireland even if they are half Irish.

The nephew developes a relationship with a young girl but her father is dead set against it. There is hostility between the girl's father and the young man's uncle. Much later it's revealed that the young girls father (Brosnan) use to be in love with the boy's mother and he was the reason that she ran away. Unbeknownst to Brosnan's character, the boy's uncle had a hand in making sure that the lovers were kept apart.

There are some very touching tender moments here and I reccomend this film highly. I hope you try it. It's very different from anything you've ever seen and quite interesting. Enjoy!

This film is a vivid depiction of life in Ireland and the long-term affections and alienations that can form in a rural, isolated area. A man whose sister had run off to American years ago finds out she has died and her son is coming to visit the only family he has left. Pierce Brosnan is the sister's left-behind lover and although not one of the central characters, he gives a memorial performance. There is a racial element in the movie which only heightens the drama but primarily the film focuses on hard hearts coming to love again.

A real sleeper. 5 stars all the way. Also has one of the funniest short segments in a movie I've ever seen. Suprised no one else mentioned this. Superb acting by all.

The other reviewers deal with the story. It's memorable for me because of two things. First is a rap version of Whiskey in the Jar. Second is the camera's absolute love affair with the Irish landscape. This film gets you as close to Ireland as you can get without setting foot on the soil. The land steals the show and is enough in itself to recommend the film.

My cousin who caught this movie on some cable channel told me about it and thought I would get a kick out of it (I'm African-American and dating an Irish man). I have always been a tremendous fan of Hill Harper's work...As well as a long time fan of Pierce Brosnan, so I was expecting good performances. However I must say, this film far exceeded my expectations so much I must simply say BRAVO!!!

While the movie at its core was somewhat predictable and formulaic it was superbly and touchingly acted. I particularly enjoyed the tensions in the relationship betwen Chad and his uncle. The cinematography and musical score were wonderful...made me feel like I was in Ireland (which is a stunningly beautiful country). Highly recommend it.

This is one of those movies that sneaks up on you and you think it's going to be an ok movie and it turns into grabbing all of your attention. The story is one you've might of heard before, a woman has a child with a man of a different race but the difference is that the woman is from Ireland. What makes the movie more intense is that her all grown up African American son wants to know more about his Irish background. When he arrives it's a warm welcome and a very very cold one as well. Hill is overwhelmed with the pressures of having a guy that hates him because of a girl who loves him and loving the home of his mother but having to soon leave. The nephew is a great movie from beginning to end with some interesting changes.

Enjoyed this movie very much. Hill Harper, the nephew was great. I intend to buy this DVD.

This is a movie that I can recommend to anyone. Cross-culturalism, subtle racism, love and family. It's all here, the budget, I suppose was not the biggest for the film, but Pierce Brosnan and the rest make the most of what they had to work with! Five stars!!