Finlayson Brewer Productions
1988
23rd Century DVD (U.K.)
The
Grasscutter is a fine example of intelligent and character driven New Zealand
Cinema. It takes a very different view of the strife in Ireland focusing on
Protestant terrorism in the form of the Ulster Volunteer Force and the
involvement of the English government in the mix. The Ulster Volunteer Force is
run by Jack Mcready, who presents himself as the face of Protestant nationalism
but is really a violent and sadistic thug. He not only enjoys torturing those
he decides to kill and has even raped and impregnated his own sister.
A
member of the Ulster Force has had enough; he has seen too much pain and
suffering. Worse, he is in love with Claire, Mcready’s sister and is shocked to
learn she was raped by her own brother, the Force’s leader.
After
much thought, he turns police informer and is used by the British government to
lock away the majority of the Ulster Force. They offer him a new name,
relocation to New Zealand and a small stipend to live on. His wife cannot live
with the fact that he turned against his own people, regardless of what they
did, and they have separated. Deeds has a new partner but misses his children. It
is a long way from Belfast and he has nearly forgotten about his past except
for occasional run-in with his ex-wife over the children and the fact she likes
to remind him of what she perceives as his betrayal of the Irish people.
However,
things rapidly change when Billy, his eldest son decides to return to Belfast.
His wife receives a devastating phone call advising her that Billy has been
killed and she is sure it was the voice of Jack Macready. More frightening, the
call came did not originate from Ireland but from within New Zealand, she
realizes their time may be up. Deed’s past now catches up with him as Mcready
seeks him out to get revenge. What Brian does not know is Macready has an ace
up his sleeve, Billy is not dead but working with Macready as he has been convinced
him that his real father died in prison and that Brian is a traitor to the
cause. He has no idea of the truth as his mother has kept the past from the
young man who had only recently turned twenty.
Macready
begins by having Billy place explosives in Deed’s apartment, while Deeds escapes;
it kills his Maori offsider and alerts the police to a major problem on their
doorsteps. It seems the problems of Belfast have made it to Dunedin. Soon we
are treated to a range of excellent stunts, car chases and confrontations –
these have an authentic feel and are very different from Hollywood stunts.
There
is an insightful sub-plot about the duplicity of the English, who are unwilling
to do anything even in the face of the death of innocent New Zealanders caused
by dropping Ireland’s problems on their doorstep. This theme is continued right
to the end of the theme and adds an extra dimension to the plot.
The
acting is solid, the cinematography excellent and the action well sustained. It
is a good mixture of thriller, action and drama. The climax is unexpected and poignant,
reflecting on how the Irish problem was not just as political battle, but one
that effected real lives and real people.
The
Grasscutter also includes lots of great photography of New Zealand especially
Dunedin and Queenstown, perhaps a bit too much ! At times it feels a little too
tourist like showing off every possible location, but that it is very small
quibble and the film makers had to get funding somehow and if that was the
cost, it was a small one.
This
is a surprising film and really worth searching for. Sadly the only DVD release is a very low
budget title from 23rd Century in the U.K, it is a region 0 DVD. The
picture is watchable but marred by lots of problems including a constant interference
band over the bottom of the screen – it has been clearly ported direct from a
videotape without any work whatsoever. The sound, however, is surprisingly clear,
especially considering the low quality of the picture. While this is not a
particularly good way to see the film it is the only one presently available
and well worth the effort. Regardless of the quality of the DVD, I found The
Grasscutter a riveting work of cinema and one that had not dated much at all
since it was made in 1988.
As
the 23rd Century brand is hard to locate internationally, it is
worth an Ebay search for copies of the film.
This review will appear in Volume 2 No.2
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
If you came to this page directly (and
missed our menu), click here
to go to the Synergy Magazine front page. (http://www.synergy-magazine.com)