| In the Name of the Father | |
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Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Jim Sheridan |
| Produced by | Jim Sheridan Gabriel Byrne Terry George Arthur Lappin |
| Screenplay by | Jim Sheridan Terry George |
| Story by | Gerry Conlon |
| Based on | Proved Innocent |
| Starring | Daniel Day-Lewis Emma Thompson Pete Postlethwaite |
| Music by | Trevor Jones |
| Cinematography | Peter Biziou |
| Editing by | Gerry Hambling |
| Studio | Hell's Kitchen Films |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures Buena Vista International |
| Release date(s) | December 12, 1993 (Ireland) February 25, 1994 (USA) |
| Running time | 133 minutes |
| Country | Ireland United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $13 million |
| Box office | $65,796,862[1] |
In the Name of the Father is a 1993 biographical film directed by Jim Sheridan. It is based on the true life story of the Guildford Four, four people falsely convicted[2] of the IRA's Guildford pub bombings which killed four off-duty British soldiers and a civilian. The screenplay was adapted by Terry George and Jim Sheridan from the autobiography Proved Innocent: The Story of Gerry Conlon of the Guildford Four by Gerry Conlon.[3]
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Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis) is shown in Belfast stripping lead from roofs when the security forces home in on the district with armoured cars, and the dustbin lids beat out a riot. His father later saves him from IRA justice, as they are about to kneecap him, and he is sent off to London for his own good. There he finds a squat, to explore, as he puts it, "free love and drugs." The evening when he walks off with some money from a prostitute's flat is when an explosion at a pub in Guildford kills five people and wounds 65.
Returning to Belfast to share his fortune, the house is raided by special forces who arrest the whole family. Gerry and his friend are interrogated by police who torture and threaten them until both finally agree to sign a confession. In the subsequent trial, his aunt's family (the Macguire seven including his father) are convicted of supporting the bombing on the basis of unsubstantiated nitroglycerine traces, and the four, including Gerry, are sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.
His time in jail shows a progression from a bitter son who rails at his father to an awakening when he discovers the real perpetrator of the bombing in the same jail. When this man sets fire to a hated jailer, Gerry is the one who saves him with a blanket. Gerry takes over the fight for justice himself when his father dies in custody.
A campaigning lawyer (Emma Thompson) who has been trying to talk to Gerry has a break when she tries to access his father's file and is able to look instead at Gerry's, finding a file marked "Not to be shown to the Defence". This leads to a triumphant scene in court when she produces the evidence that the police officers have been lying all the way through, which leads to the acquittal of all the accused.
In the Name of the Father won the Golden Bear at the 44th Berlin International Film Festival.[4]
The film was also nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Actor in a Leading Role (Daniel Day-Lewis), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Pete Postlethwaite), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Emma Thompson), Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
The film was widely criticised upon release, including by historian Robert Kee, The Sunday Times, and solicitor Gareth Peirce on the grounds that it contained several factual inaccuracies.[5]
The soundtrack of the film includes the song "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart" performed by Sinéad O'Connor and written by Bono, Gavin Friday, and Maurice Seezer. It also includes "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" performed by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
The soundtrack on sale featured these songs:
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