A Love Divided

Rating:
Summary: Do whatever you have to to see this movie!
Review: Based on a true incident in County Wexford, Ireland, "A Love Divided" tells how one family's problem in dealing with a religious decision swept up first a town, and then a country. Sean and Sheila Cloney (played magnificently by Liam Cunningham and Orla Brady) are Catholic and Protestant, respectively. In order to marry in the Catholic church in Ireland (after having a civil and a Protestant ceremony first), Sheila signs the required Ne Temere pledge that she will raise any children from the marriage as Catholics. She honors this pledge for a long time as her little girls part to go to Mass with their father on Sundays while she goes to services with her father and sister. However, she draws the line when the local parish priest, Father Stafford (Tony Doyle) insists on her oldest daughter going to the Catholic school without any regard for the idea that the parents have the right to make this decision.

Initially, Sean doesn't understand her insistence that the decision is theirs to make and insists the priest is right - she signed a pledge. Feeling betrayed, she steals off with her daughters, not realizing the consequences that lay ahead. It is not my intention to moralize on what the viewer should come away thinking after seeing this movie or to give my own interpretation of the message. Just see the movie . . .

Rating:
Summary: Do whatever you have to to see this movie!
Review: Based on a true incident in County Wexford, Ireland, "A Love Divided" tells how one family's problem in dealing with a religious decision swept up first a town, and then a country. Sean and Sheila Cloney (played magnificently by Liam Cunningham and Orla Brady) are Catholic and Protestant, respectively. In order to marry in the Catholic church in Ireland (after having a civil and a Protestant ceremony first), Sheila signs the required Ne Temere pledge that she will raise any children from the marriage as Catholics. She honors this pledge for a long time as her little girls part to go to Mass with their father on Sundays while she goes to services with her father and sister. However, she draws the line when the local parish priest, Father Stafford (Tony Doyle) insists on her oldest daughter going to the Catholic school without any regard for the idea that the parents have the right to make this decision.

Initially, Sean doesn't understand her insistence that the decision is theirs to make and insists the priest is right - she signed a pledge. Feeling betrayed, she steals off with her daughters, not realizing the consequences that lay ahead. It is not my intention to moralize on what the viewer should come away thinking after seeing this movie or to give my own interpretation of the message. Just see the movie . . .

Rating:
Summary: Do whatever you have to to see this movie!
Review: Based on a true incident in County Wexford, Ireland, "A Love Divided" tells how one family's problem in dealing with a religious decision swept up first a town, and then a country. Sean and Sheila Cloney (played magnificently by Liam Cunningham and Orla Brady) are Catholic and Protestant, respectively. In order to marry in the Catholic church in Ireland (after having a civil and a Protestant ceremony first), Sheila signs the required Ne Temere pledge that she will raise any children from the marriage as Catholics. She honors this pledge for a long time as her little girls part to go to Mass with their father on Sundays while she goes to services with her father and sister. However, she draws the line when the local parish priest, Father Stafford (Tony Doyle) insists on her oldest daughter going to the Catholic school without any regard for the idea that the parents have the right to make this decision.

Initially, Sean doesn't understand her insistence that the decision is theirs to make and insists the priest is right - she signed a pledge. Feeling betrayed, she steals off with her daughters, not realizing the consequences that lay ahead. It is not my intention to moralize on what the viewer should come away thinking after seeing this movie or to give my own interpretation of the message. Just see the movie . . .

Rating:
Summary: I loved this movie!
Review: Based on the true life of Sean and Sheila Cloney, this is a beatiful story of love, family, and friendship being torn apart by blind prejudice and religious bigotry. It's a courageous story that will make you think, make you cry, make you smile, and make you cheer. A must-see and one of my favorite movies.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Done!
Review: This film is a feast for the eyes as it tells a heartbreaking and ultimately triumphant story of a woman who challenges the power of the Catholic Church in Ireland in the 1950's. The cost is dear for her, her family, the whole village, and all Ireland, but she fights for what is right. All the actors are excellent and the story stays with you long after the film ends.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this movie!
Review: This movie is among my top 25 favorites of all time. It is very much worthwhile. It is intelligent, thought-provoking, funny, sad, honest, gritty, heroic. The first time I saw it, I wrote to my closest friends and my family, and recommended it to all of them. It is a movie that touches your head and your heart, and stays with you long after you have viewed it. When the final scene is over, you will sit in amazement, and be in awe that it is a TRUE story, about people with vision, courage, and hearts full of love and committment to each other and to the truth.

Rating:
Summary: Very worthwhile
Review: This movie is among my top 25 favorites of all time. It is very much worthwhile. It is intelligent, thought-provoking, funny, sad, honest, gritty, heroic. The first time I saw it, I wrote to my closest friends and my family, and recommended it to all of them. It is a movie that touches your head and your heart, and stays with you long after you have viewed it. When the final scene is over, you will sit in amazement, and be in awe that it is a TRUE story, about people with vision, courage, and hearts full of love and committment to each other and to the truth.

Rating:
Summary: Totally biased film
Review: While I cannot say about the real persons this story is about, it certainly protrays the film from an entirely sympathetic ear to the Protestant side; making most of the Catholics in the village to look like criminals which any reasonable person would realize is far than normal nor even true. Rather than give pause to the cycle of hate it only seems to stir up more resentment by catering to one side.

Coming from a mixed marriage myself I can totally relate to the challenges of a Catholic and non-Catholic couple; blame would fall on both sides and I feel this film is quite inaccurate in that sense.

I give this film a 0 in rating since it's producers could not give a balanced perspective. Truly a disgraceful film and only promotes more hatred in my opinion. Definately not something you want your kids to watch so they can start picking and choosing who their friends will be and who they will not.