Watch A Mighty Handshake

A Mighty Handshake is a powerful drama set in Ireland's border county of Cavan in the mid-1970s. The film tells the story of two brothers, Joe and Thomas Finnegan, who have taken opposite sides in the political conflict that has gripped Northern Ireland for decades. Joe is a committed republican and Thomas, the more strait-laced of the two, takes the loyalist cause. The two are forced to re-examine their beliefs and confront their past when their mother, Annie, falls ill.

The film begins with Joe and Thomas living very different lives. Joe, played by Barry Ward, is a farmer and part-time construction worker who has a family and a young son, while Thomas, played by Timothy Spall, is a factory worker who lives alone in a small house on the outskirts of town. We learn that their father died when they were young, and their mother is the only person they have left in their lives.

The film takes its name from a traditional Irish greeting, one in which two people shake hands and then they clasp each other's right wrists. It is a gesture of friendship and goodwill, and the film suggests that it is only through such a handshake that the conflict in Northern Ireland can be resolved. The handshake is also a symbol of the brothers' relationship, which is strained at best, and the film explores the reasons why the two men took such different paths in life.

When Annie falls ill, Joe and Thomas are forced to confront their past and their differences. Joe is dismayed when he learns that his son is getting involved in the republican movement, a cause that he himself gave up years ago. Thomas, who has always been more cautious, dismisses the younger generation as hotheads who are liable to cause more harm than good. As they spend time together, they have to grapple with their own beliefs and prejudices, and understand how they are linked to their past.

The film's director, Aisling Walsh, does an excellent job of showing the beauty of the Irish countryside and the tension that still exists between Catholics and Protestants, even as the Good Friday Agreement is being negotiated. The subtle changes in the brothers' relationship are conveyed through small gestures and minimal dialogue. The film is not preachy, and there are no easy answers. Instead, it shows the complexity of the situation and how reconciliation is not only difficult but often painful.

The acting is superb, with Barry Ward and Timothy Spall giving nuanced performances that show the depth of their characters' emotions. The supporting cast is also excellent, with Moe Dunford playing a young activist who is eager to prove himself, and Stephen Rea as a mysterious stranger who seems to know more about the brothers than he lets on.

A Mighty Handshake is a powerful and moving film that explores the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and family. It shows how the conflict in Northern Ireland affected not only the people who lived there but also those who had to choose sides. The film is not without its flaws, and some of the characters' motivations are not always clear, but overall it is a poignant and heartfelt work that will stay with you long after the closing credits.