Four Days in July (1984)

Peter McGinn

9.0

Jan 13, 2024

I realized I had watched this movie many years ago, as we have a lot of Mike Leigh's films, but though there were a few spots that sparked a memory, I didn't recall enough to spoil the pleasure of watching it this time. It is a quiet movie, especially considering that it takes place during the Irish "Troubles," and that seems to have ruffled some reviewers' feathers. Me, I am always up for a slow-paced movie as long as I like the characters and there is some subtle wit and humor included, which this movie had by the bucketful. The only two actors I recognized I like, who were Charles Law…

A brief review, given the electoral changes that’re in it, in Norniron. With the last of his accomplished television films for the BBC, Leigh directs and, more impressively, writes with nuance on the sectarian divides of 1980s Belfast. Two couples – one unionist, one nationalist – are presented with evenhanded understanding, if not necessarily sympathy, before and after The Twelfth. With the best of British social realism, Leigh avoids the more romantic, didactic dualism of Loach/Laverty’s Irish films. The final scene is especially well-written and neatly directed. Come here to me, is th…