In a remote Irish village, a damaged Finbar is forced to fight for redemption after a lifetime of sins, but what price is he willing to pay? In the land of saints and sinners, some sins can't be bu...
Combining elements of a classic western with a story of ethics, morality, and personal redemption, “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” is a film that blends a complex character drama with an action thriller. Director Robert Lorenz explores a world where loyalties collide in a cat and mouse game that grows increasingly violent. Very few are innocent here, and there’s a stormy shadow that hangs over this story of dark pasts and fierce allegiances.
Set in Ireland in the 1970s, former hitman Finbar (Liam Neeson) is ready to leave his past behind and retires to the remote coastal village of Glencolmcille, a place that’s far away from the political violence that is threatening the rest of the country. Life runs smoothly until a crew of terrorists, led by the ruthless Doireann (Kerry Condon), arrive and disrupt the peaceful and quiet town. Feeling the need to defend his friends and neighbors, Finbar decides to fight back against the intruders. What follows is a personal war and battle for survival that allows the man to fight for redemption after a lifetime of sins.
Lorenz (directing a screenplay by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane) explores the blurred line of what makes a man a hero or a villain, as Finbar wrestles with keeping the skeletons in his closet buried versus protecting the residents of his chosen home. His journey is a weighty one that’s presented in a more sophisticated manner than you’d expect, and the characters are written with much depth and substance.
Neeson’s age works well for him here, giving Finbar a wise and worldly, yet knowingly damned, temperament. He’s calm and collected, a reflection of the darkness that lies in his past. Neeson is understated yet effective in the lead role, and his legions of fans who turn out to his movies to see him open up a can of whoop ass will find a quieter, more subdued version of the actor here. His character kills people to be sure, but this film is more soulful rather than action packed. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s something worth mentioning in order to set expectations.
The rugged beauty of the Irish landscape plays a supporting role here, with windswept vistas and rocky cliff sides framing the violence and drama as it unfolds. Setting the story in one of the most turbulent times in Ireland’s history serves the narrative well too, providing a depth and texture to this morality tale of personal salvation and atonement.
“In the Land of Saints and Sinners” offers some fresh perspectives on familiar themes, and it’s so nice to see Neeson in a role that’s more meaningful than his usual throwaway fare.
