Contemporary Irish Cinema: From the Quiet Man to Dancing at Lughnasa

A worthy subject a bit too 'worthily' approached. Lots of the writing in this book of essays edited by James Mackillop is stodgy and pedestrian. Shining exception is Harlan Kennedy, whose article 'Shamrocks and Shillelaghs' is full of colour, wit, detail and revealing connections. He also covers an ambitious swathe of Irish film history: a four-star effort that alone makes the book worth looking at. A shamrock to him. A shillelagh to everyone else!Jill Smith