The Best Years

It's interesting to see Irish reviewers' takes on movies like this. After seeing this movie I still listen to the beautiful soundtrack by Paddy Nash. I put it on this morning, which is why I thought to look up the movie here.

I remember being captivated by the drama of this young kid in over his head, with elements of recent troubles history in his Romeo and Juliet romance with Nadine. The scenes had a raw grittiness that felt very real to me when I saw it in the theater.

So it's surprising to me to hear the film described by at least one reviewer here as both unlikely and clichéd. And I can't argue with that, in terms of history or culture or politics, because I wasn't there. Anyone who lived in Derry at the time would surely have a more realistic view of the troubles and of Irish culture than I do.

But this morning, my young son looked up when that first song came on, and gave me a look, like, "What in the world is this?" After the song ended, he said, "Dad, it's so beautiful, it almost hurts." That's how I always felt about The Best Years. I'm a sucker for anything that's both beautiful and sad. That's how I remember the movie.