Four Letters of Love
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2 (out of 5 stars)
Niall Williams' novel tells this beautifully spiritual Irish tale through the voice of Nicholas Coughlan (Fionn O'Shea), a teen who struggles to connect with his father. William Coughlan (Pierce Brosnan) is a civil servant who one day hears the voice of God tell him that he must find himself in painting. This calling causes a massive cavern between father and son, primarily upon the death of the Coughlan matriarch, Bette (Imelda May), who passes away. Yet, William's painting has a deeper purpose that is discovered as the serendipitous story of Isabel Gore (Ann Skelly) unfolds on one of the Western Irish Isles. As tragedy and celebrations occur for her family, the two narratives of these young strangers begin to intertwine as a poetry contest brings a painting into the Gore home that will change their lives forever.
To define Niall Williams' story would be difficult, as this mystical, dramatic, coming-of-age fable rides the line between fantasy and reality. The mystery and romance that unfold take a multitude of poetic turns, bringing clarity and confusion simultaneously. Director Polly Steele (The Mountain Within Me) treats the screenplay and cinematography like those of a fine artist, as each scene captures the perplexity of the painter as he touches the canvas with each brushstroke to unearth the layers of the story. The internal and external settings are stunning and appear to be three-dimensional canvases that the players interact with from island to island.
All the while, the performances within this subtly enchanting tale are best experienced by the viewer by allowing themselves to see themselves in the roles on display. This outstanding veteran cast, featuring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter, and Gabriel Byrne, embodies these characters with depth, adding richness to the story as it unfolds. As Fionn O'Shea, Imelda May and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo (Sing Street) bring the youthful vigour needed to make the magical and innocent spices truly come to life on screen.
Four Letters of Love lacks the sharp narrative lucidity of modern films, which may cause contemporary audiences to struggle to connect with the overall journey. Still, there is something oddly spellbinding about this story that will capture the hearts of those who are willing to embrace the colourful brushstrokes of what is being created before their eyes. Difficult to define, yet a mythical Irish journey for romantics everywhere.
Find out more about Russ Matthews' latest book: Reel Marriage. Click on link to get your copy
Reel Dialogue: How can we talk to God?*
One element that elevates Four Letters of Love into the mystical category is how William Coughlan hears from God. This on-screen celestial connection is never truly explained and leads to heartache and difficulties throughout the storyline. Yet, talking to God doesn't have to be that hard.
Prayer is one of those things that is wonderfully simple, yet it can also be confusing. Did you know that prayer is a gift to humanity, allowing us to communicate with God? We can talk, spend time with and draw closer to God in the good and bad times of life. This time with God allows people to give thanks, share requests and express adoration for His presence in our lives. No need to pray to a statue, wait for light to shine through a window, to wear special headgear, or to wait for a 'professional' to give you access; prayer is something anyone can do anywhere.
The one catch is a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
God can hear everything and knows your needs. Still, to access this special connection, you must believe in God through a relationship with Jesus. There is a beautiful simplicity to prayer, while an indescribable complexity to all it offers to those of us who pray.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. - Colossians 4:2
*Originally on God in 60 Seconds - How Does Prayer Work?
