While this film takes place entirely in Norther Ireland, it deploys tropes and stereotypes of other portions of the world. What regions are referenced, and how do these depictions map onto the local political calculus?
2 thoughts on “Divorcing Jack question #2”
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The soon-to-be-elected prime minister Michael Brinn implies that Americans like movies with “happy endings.” He uses this stereotype to explain to the American reporter why he does not entirely believe in capital punishment for all murders, does not want revenge and all he wants is peace. He sounds like he is a peace advocate when in reality he just feels guilty. His political reasoning of “peace is all we need” is just absurd. Of course, he does not want revenge because he was the one who planted the bomb that killed 13 people. He is to blame. He wants peace because he has already won. He has power and got away with his crime. He is expected to win the elections, so this confirms that people believe what he says.
Great point about the American linkage to happy endings. I got the impression Brinn’s character was modeled after Reagan, from the charm, cadence, and rhetoric. Brinn, like Reagan, communicated effectively and subdued their crowds into believing they were well-meaning. The fact he killed 13 people “in the name of peace” is also on brand for America.