"Some Mother's Son": Terry George

Ireland.

Shown Wednesday night

The importance of the festival's opening night film was brilliantly served by "Some Mother's Son," the devastating depiction of two mothers' involvement in the violent strife in Ireland in 1979 that led to their sons' imprisonment and the prisoners' hunger strike, led by Bobby Sands, to gain prisoner of war status.

The film is constructed in a deceptively simple, straightforward, but wrenching manner that is emotionally grueling until finally the effort and pain create the great strength and heights attained by those works that are built, block by heavy block, steadily and evenly until there is a structure that floors you! But as you lie there you look about and realize that you have been elevated to the top floor of the edifice and from this vantage point you can see much farther than you have before.

This grand job was done by Terry George. It is his first time directing and he wrote the script with Jim Sheridan, one of the producers.

Helen Mirren, the incredibly fine performer, also functioned as associate producer and her presence in this film does ever so much to lift it up on high. As the mother who is opposed to violence she works perfectly in concert with Fionnula Flanagan, the earthy, militant mother, and a cast that sets standards for acting.