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How Harry Became a Tree review
:. Director: Goran Paskaljevic
:. Starring: Colm Meaney, Adrian Dunbar
:. Running Time: 1:40
:. Year: 2001
:. Country: Ireland
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After a few years in the city (an immigrants' New York in Someone Else's America and a Belgrade on the verge of exploding in Cabaret Balkan), Serbian director Goran Paskaljevic journeys to the Irish countryside to explore themes prevalent everywhere: hatred and revenge.
In How Harry Became a Tree, Paskaljevic has adapted the story Lao Dan by Yang Zhengsung to 1924 Ireland. In a small town we meet Harry (Colm Meaney), a bitter widower living with his son Gus (Cillian Murphy). Harry has decided to hate his neighbor instead of love him. The neighbor most deserving of his ire is George (Adrian Dunbar), the local pub owner. His hatred for his nemesis leads him to a path of questionable (and absurd) revenge tactics that ultimately threatens his relationship with his son.
When Gus falls for George's maidservant Eileen (Kerry Condon), Harry is forced to negotiate with his anathema so that they can marry. Under Harry's roof the newlyweds hardly have a honeymoon existence, as Harry's sense of reason dissipates with each passing day. He believes that the more enemies he has, the better off he is. In his twisted plot to turn the villagers against George, he is willing to sacrifice his daughter-in-law's honor and make a complete laughingstock of himself.
How Harry Became a Tree, though not without surreal elements, is very tied to the earth. Homes are simple, life is difficult, and the rainy Irish countryside is rough and gorgeous, a character in its own right. Paskaljevic initially wanted to set the film in Yugoslavia but was unable to return at the time. While the story could essentially be filmed anywhere with its universal theme, rural Ireland lends itself well. Some parallels between Yugoslavia and Ireland exist in terms of conflict and nationalism and the themes of revenge and unmitigated hatred aren't exactly foreign in either country. But there are folklorist elements scented with an earthy, Eastern European aroma. Scenes with folk musicians playing the accordion, a rural wedding picture with a goat wandering around and gossiping villagers could just as easily have been played out in rural Serbia. And of course, both countries share a mutual love of alcohol and cabbage, but that's just a superficial observation.
The acting is very good. Meany carries the film on his strong shoulders and gives his character a saltiness that still leaves a trace of humanity despite how deeply his rage consumes him. Harry is a complete, though acutely deluded, man. His grief over his lost wife and son is palpable and his sarcasm brings notes of levity to the story when sadness threatens to engulf. No small feat, Meany makes us believe that he is turning into a tree, steadfast in his outrageous conviction. As his son Gus, Murphy gives just enough timeless youthful disdain that never veers near modern affectation. Kerry Condon has an interesting role as an adulterous newlywed and her strong portrayal of the boredom of small town life challenges both Harry and Gus.
Harry's anger at the world around him and his deliberate choice to create an enemy certainly resonates in 2003. The comedy and inevitable, absurd tragedy of the tale only becomes more poignant and more relevant. For once the hatred takes root, it can only spread.
Anji Milanovic
 Movie Reviews: Foreign Films
Movie Reviews: from 1998 to 2011
Reviews since 2012
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