Lamb ***½ (1985, Liam Neeson, Hugh O’Conor, Ian Bannen, Harry Towb, Frances Tomelty, Dudley Sutton) – Classic Movie Review 13,280

Colin Gregg’s 1985 Irish drama film Lamb derives from Bernard MacLaverty’s novel, and stars Liam Neeson, Hugh O’Conor and Ian Bannen.

Director Colin Gregg’s 1985 Irish drama film Lamb derives from Bernard MacLaverty’s novel, and stars Liam Neeson, Hugh O’Conor, Ian Bannen, Harry Towb, Frances Tomelty, Dudley Sutton, and Rouan Wilmot.

Lamb is a deeply troubling and achingly moving prestige drama about a Roman Catholic priest called Brother Sebastian, whose real name is Michael Lamb (the excellent Liam Neeson). He is a teacher at an Irish home for troubled boys, clashing with the unpleasant headmaster Brother Benedict (Ian Bannen) and taking off with a disturbed bullied 10-year-old boy inmate named Owen Kane (Hugh O’Conor), who suffers from fits. Brother Sebastian hopes to be the boy’s saviour.

An excellent screenplay by Bernard MacLaverty, based on his novel, is illuminated with fine characterisations and a complex treatment of difficult themes (particularly the old religious ones of faith, hope and charity).

The story’s obsessive, despairing tone and doomed theme unexpectedly recall Humphrey Bogart’s High Sierra.

Colin Gregg came up with the idea for his earlier 1982 film Remembrance following his student experiences at Plymouth Art College. His other films also include To the Lighthouse (1983), Lamb (1985), and We Think the World of You (1988).

The cast are Liam Neeson as Michael Lamb, Harry Towb as Priest, Hugh O’Conor as Owen Kane, Frances Tomelty as Mrs Kane, Ian Bannen as Brother Benedict, Ronan Wilmot as Brother Fintan, Denis Carey as Mr. Lamb, David Gorry as O’Donnell, Andrew Pickering as Murphy, Stuart O’Connor as O’Holloran, Ian McElhinney as Maguire, Dudley Sutton as Haddock, Nigel Humphreys as Policeman, Eileen Kennally as Neighbour Woman, and Lorna Ellis as Shy Girl.

Lamb is directed by Colin Gregg, runs 110 minutes, is made by Flickers Productions, Limehouse Productions and Channel 4 Films, is released by Cannon Films, is written by Bernard MacLaverty, is shot by Michael Garfath [Mike Garfath], is produced by Neil Zeiger, and is scored by Van Morrison.

Irish actor Hugh O’Conor (born 19 April 1975) makes his first film appearance in Lamb.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,280

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