An Irish social realism for Irish problems?

In this RTÉ production, sixteen-year-old Martin returns from reform school to an overcrowded home, inattentive parents, little opportunity, considerable prejudice, and all-too-frequent advice on the importance of law, order, and property.

Clergy in the film are largely well-meaning. They introduce it and provide commentary – like an episode of Radharc, a popular, long-running Irish documentary series (1962-1996)) – but repeatedly express their own inadequacy for their work.

MacLochlainn and Ó Marcaigh do a grand job, with the help of Stewar... read the rest.