The Luck of Ginger Coffey

The Luck of Ginger Coffey is a 1964 drama film directed by Irvin Kershner. The movie stars Robert Shaw, Mary Ure, and Liam Redmond and is based on the novel of the same name by Canadian author Brian Moore.

In this compelling drama, Robert Shaw plays the role of James Francis "Ginger" Coffey, an Irishman who emigrates with his wife, Vera (played by Mary Ure), and teenage daughter, Paulie (Libby McClintock), in a quest for an improved life in Canada. Ginger is seen as a dreamer, always believing in a better tomorrow, and it's his burning ambition for success that drives much of the film's narrative.

The Luck of Ginger Coffey opens with the family having spent all their money in a failed attempt to change their lives and no prospects of improvement. Ginger Coffey lost his job and fails to find another due to his overqualification. His stubborn refusal to accept his circumstances while dreaming of unrealistically high aspirations drives the movie’s emotional core. His wife, Vera, endlessly supportive, albeit impatient, gradually loses faith in her husband's visions, adding to their tangled miseries.

Coffey's charismatic and vibrant personality can't overshadow his unsettling dalliance with reality. His determination to achieve his goals, regardless of how unrealistic they may be, blends a mixture of frustration, sympathy, and admiration among the film's viewers.

Robert Shaw delivers a sterling performance as Ginger Coffey, the haphazard, jolly Irishman who, despite being a dreamer, never ceases his frantic endeavors to improve his family's situation. His character spirals between hope and despair, his cheerfulness occasionally cracking under the pressure of his failures. Mary Ure, on the other hand, captures the slowly escalating despair and disillusionment of a wife whose husband's dreams have led them to a foreign country with less-than-ideal circumstances.

The movie effectively uses the snowy backdrop of Montreal to embody the cold and harsh realities the Coffey family faces. The melancholy and desperation are deeply palpable throughout the film, intertwined with the bitter-sweet beauty of aspiration and undying efforts against all odds.

Ginger's relentless endeavors take him through numerous jobs, many of them humiliating for a man with his qualifications. Each decline and pitfall serves to shatter his dreams further, with his endless optimism being constantly tested against the harsh Canadian winter.

Ginger’s ambition for a higher social position, layered with his unwavering loyalty towards his family, adds a layer of complexity to his character. It keeps the audience on the precipice of a question – How far can a man’s determination take him, especially when the nature of his dreams is intrinsically unrealistic?

The Luck of Ginger Coffey is not a movie about religion or politics but about human nature and its astounding resilience. It explores the struggle of acclimating to a different society and the strain it puts on familial relationships. It delves into the core of human aspirations, hopes, and their correlation with reality.

Irvin Kershner's direction lends the movie a distinct, emotional literacy where no dialogue is wasted, and every scene serves the story. The use of close-ups adds a certain intimacy, making the character development more profound and the narrative more engaging.

In short, The Luck of Ginger Coffey is a thought-provoking film that explores the difficult journey of emigration along with the human capability to dream and to endure. This is a movie that thoroughly utilizes its performers' capacities, resulting in a narrative that engages, saddens, and enlightens all at the same time.

In the sea of 1960s cinema, The Luck of Ginger Coffey remains a fascinating watch. The performances from Robert Shaw and Mary Ure make the film a moving exploration of one man’s relentless and illusory pursuit of success, and the remarkable and at times, tragic resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It's a story that stays with you, an exploration of the often complicated relationship between dreams, reality, and the sacrifices made in the name of that pursuit.