Broken Harvest

Ireland and her troubles are the subject of this preachy, melodramatic import which traces a season in the life of young Jimmy O'Leary when his father and uncle (who fought on opposite sides of the civil war) come to verbal and virtual blows. Leaving no cliché unturned, viewers eventually discover that not only do the brothers have a political chip on their respective shoulders, they also fought earlier over Jimmy's mother. So then, what we have here me laddies, is a Harlequin romance dressed up in 20th-century Irish politics. If you want real Irish woes, read Frank McCourt's outstanding memoir Angela's Ashes instead. Not recommended. (R. Pitman)