The Crying Game

The Crying Game, upon initial viewing, is an unsettling experience. Neil Jordan was able to direct a film with unconventional characters in situations you generally would never expect. In doing, Jordan demonstrates the power of cinema as an emotional persuader. Even the most offensive and disturbing of situations come out as normal and everyday feelings. The Crying Game is a “Game” of emotions created by the director (and a well acted cast) against the audience.

Forest Whitaker stars as a British soldier named Jody who is captured by the Irish terrorist group the IRA. Jody strikes up an ambiguous relationship with an IRA Irishman by the name of Fergus. After an unfortunate and violent accident of sorts, Fergus seeks to find Jody’s true love. For reasons not apparent at first, Fergus is compelled to see someone he really knows nothing about. All too soon, Fergus realizes that their was more to Jody than met the eye.

Throughout The Crying Game, Fergus has visions of Jody playing bat mitten enthusiastically. I found these scenes to be unintentionally comical yet help to “glue” the film together. Fergus seems trapped between his past life in the IRA (which comes back to haunt him) and the “new life” he has yet to realize consciously. Everything Fergus faces in life is some type of hurdle.

Fergus hunts down Jody’s “girl” Dil, and immediately becomes obsessed. Fergus gives Dil “the look” and a bond starts to develop. A bond of the unholy sort that I dare not mention. The Crying Game features a clashing and connection between various subcultures of Great Britain. Neil Jordan was able to taking a simply directed film and through it’s story, make it unforgettable. Also, Neil Jordon might hate women.

-Ty E