Angel

Neil Jordan, Eire, 1982, 92 minutes

Jordan's debut movie takes the conventions of a standard thriller plot - innocent bystander witnesses horrific murders and turns avenger - and integrates them cleverly into a contemporary setting: 1980s Northern Ireland.

Danny (Stephen Rea), saxman with a local dance band, is the hapless fall guy who watches as his manager and a deaf mute girl he had just picked up are gunned down by protection racketeers. Taking up arms to track down the killers Danny embarks on a nightmare journey through the urban and rural landscapes of Armagh, his desire for retribution dragging him into a hopeless downward spiral where one act of violence seems inevitably to lead to another. As such, Angel isn't about the political situation in Northern Ireland; it rather examines the way in which violence breeds violence and effects those left in its wake, noticeably the girlfriends, wives and mothers whose menfolk are conspicuous in their absence.

Jordan's script is well crafted and, despite the sombre nature of its subject matter, is scattered with enough wry humour and deadpan wit to prevent Angel becoming overly pessimistic. The lovingly detailed recreation of a provincial dancehall band is strangely compelling, as truly ridiculous as the costumes, hairstyles and corny cover versions are, they are nevertheless superbly authentic. And hey, just feast your eyes on that neon palm tree.

The acting from Rea and Veronica Quilligan is excellent, Jordan handles the action pretty well and manages to provide a greater deal of visual interest than the the scenario might have suggested.

Review by Iain Harral
Taken from EUFS Programme 1995-96