Sir, - Notwithstanding Oscar Wilde's contemptuous "eunuchs in a brothel" dismissal of his critics, one cannot but in general applaud the service provided by Irish film and TV critics in informing the viewing public of the relative merits or otherwise of the various films offered for their delectation.
However, they also bear a responsibility to be fair and objective and not allow personal bias to unduly colour their criticism. I refer to the waspish critique offered by Hugh Linehan of last Thursday's feature film, Broken Harvest, in the preview of the forthcoming week's TV programmes in The Irish Times (February 1st) which he disparagingly dismisses as "embarrassingly, amateurish".
It goes without saying that Mr Linehan is entitled to his opinions, like everyone else. But how does one square this carping review with those from the Los Angeles Times - "deeply felt and gorgeous", the LA Daily News - "quite possibly the best Irish movie in recent times", or the New York Times - "big hearty performance". The Boston Globe critic also gave the film a rave review, as did the Cape Cod Times - "a powerful, moving drama". At the Cannes Film Festival, reviewers described Broken Harvest as "the most beautiful Irish film they had yet seen". Of course the film has its flaws, and no one is more conscious of them than those of us who worked on the making of it. But it has already outstripped most other better financed Irish films on the international market and has also got a cinema, video and TV release in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, among others. Not bad for an "embarrassingly amateurish" movie. - Yours, etc.,
Waverley Tce,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.