In the Land of Saints and Sinners
A film about revenge and redemption
“In the Land of Saints and Sinners” is a film by Robert Lorenz and starring Liam Neeson.
Set in 1974 during the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland, it follows the story of Finbar Murphy, a widower who leads a quiet existence in a coastal town, between drinks in the local pub, shooting competitions with his policeman friend (Ciarán Hinds) and chats with his neighbour.
But Finbar is actually a hired killer who has had enough of this job and wants to retire. However, he will have to postpone his intention due to the arrival in the city of a group of IRA terrorists who have just committed an attack in Belfast, in which, by mistake, some children also died.
We are used to seeing Neeson in action stories where revenge is involved and this is probably the reason why the title “L’ultima vendetta” (The Last Revenge) was chosen in Italia (my country). “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” instead conveys much better the dramatic soul of the story and the desire for redemption with which it is impregnated.
In fact, it combines a careful look at a very particular historical period, the evocative settings of the Emerald Isle and the element of action and violence linked to the theme of terrorism and the figure of the protagonist as an avenger.
