Whoever said all you need is love, forgot a few stipulations. All we really need is love, stability, and if you happen to be in Ireland in 1949, you should both probably be Catholic. For Sean Cloney (Liam Cunningham) and Sheila Kelly (Orla Brady) and the small town of Fethard in County Wexford, it wasn't initially a problem that she was Protestant and he was not. On Sundays the two would part and she would walk down the hill to her church and he up the hill to his.
The tensions between the couple mount after awhile, and the religious differences explode until the entire town is embroiled in a religious brawl. Based on true testimonials and featuring a strong cast of Irish talent, A Love Divided is both cinematically and historically sound. Both Cunningham and Brady act so superbly in their roles, that it is painful to watch the breach of their relationship occur in such an abrupt and violent manner. Director Syd Macartney has a painstaking eye for detail and beauty, immersing the audience in the religious turmoil and sectarian suspicion in 1950's Ireland.
