Here's a nice addtion to the Guildford Four case along with the immortal classic "In the Name of the Father" (1993) which covers the whole pain and misery by the Conlon family,
father and son arrested as Irish terrorists who killed four people on a British pub and as we all know now that their confessions were extracted through torture and the evidence shown
against the Conlons and others were nothing of substance but were accepted by the court.
While Jim Sheridan's film is put on high regard, got plenty of media coverage and awards buzz,
the story took plenty of artistic licences to present a story appealing to audiences - such as the fact father and son sharing a prison cell, which never happened - and while most of the
attention is divided between the men in prison and the lawyer fighting for their release, we don't get to see the families obstacles in clearing their names, and that's why "Dear
Sarah" works as a companion piece to that movie by following Giuseppe Conlon's wife and Gerry Conlon's mother (brilliantly played by Stella McCusker) and her fight over their case,
trying to appeal to authorities and even the church, claiming about their innocence.
Although this was slightly made on a rush after the new verdict on the case, the movie didn't lost any quality with the material available as some TV movies tend to make,
specially American ones. The makers follow everything available to them, focusing on the false accusers and the whole ordeals faced by Sarah while consulting lawyers and others, and
there's also the letters exchanged with her husband, each detailing their routines and the hope for a better resolution to their situation. There's less tension if compared to the
more famous film, but both are excellent in dramatic terms, quite realistic and you trust everyone involved in the movie. Both films manage to leave audiences enraged with the whole
thing concerning the Guildford Four, the unfair trial, the obstacles faced in prison and the whole judicial system. In one particular scene from "Dear Sarah" where one would expect
some suppport for her and her family, when asking for some advice from a priest who could her in proving the men innocence, the priest keeps insisting that the trial was fair and they
were convicted terrorists without a doubt. The word of a family member who knows best the ones she lived her whole life was less valuable than the judicial system who "had" proof against
the accused.
For those interested in seeing a story about the animosity towards Brits and Irish during the peak of IRA movement and their attacks, and how some innoncent were always caught up
in the middle, this is a very reflective, poignant and interesting film, along with the forementioned "In the Name of the Father" (a classic by now). This forgotten film has plenty of
qualities, great story, great acting and it does not pale in comparison with the other film - it just got overlooked over the years. Though I wasn't familiar with the majority of cast
members here (except for Simon Chandler, who plays the solicitor), a surprising familiar face came halfway through and that was Brendan Gleeson in his very first film appearance. A short
role but highly memorable.
On a final analysis, if we ever learned about this tragic story is that the truth always comes out, and it's not a particularity about the Guildford case but also for many
other injustices commited through the ages, up until today where innocent people have their liberties taken and lives potentially destroyed because of unsubstantial gossip, hearsay
and a terrible rush to judgement. With Sarah, we can believe and hope for justice, and the fight for truth is always honorable. 9/10.
