Later of their lives, Dolours and Hughes each selected to conduct interviews with Boston School’s Belfast Challenge; the present recreates these interviews as its framing system. Others stayed tight-lipped. Northern Irish politician Gerry Adams (Josh Finan/Michael Colgan) has lengthy been accused of being an IRA chief; “Say Nothing” actually depicts him as one. However to at the present time, he nonetheless formally denies that cost. Even the collection’ answer to Jean McConville’s homicide is Keefe’s educated guess as a result of anybody who is aware of the reality hasn’t spilled it.
“Say Nothing,” because the title of Keefe’s ebook claims, is a narrative about reminiscence — however reminiscences and recorded historical past are incomplete, so we frequently should accept tales. Keefe assembled these scattered reminiscences of Northern Eire’s Troubles right into a story. Even a a lot poorer author than him may’ve captured the suspense and drama of this story, however his stirring writing was the proper blueprint for “Say Nothing” to be dramatized.
In fact, when it got here to that dramatization, it was out of Keefe’s fingers and in simply as succesful ones belonging to the present’s solid and crew. The youthful stars like Petticrew, Doupe, and Boyle (carrying his scenes with chest-pumping charisma) are particularly spectacular. All three are Irish (Petticrew and Boyle hail from the North), so they convey additional authenticity to their roles.
Petticrew and Doupe are the glue that maintain “Say Nothing” collectively, their performances complementing one another just like the Value sisters do. The elder sister Dolours is initially the pluckier chief, however because the story goes on, she succumbs to disillusionment. Marian, alternatively, by no means abandons her radicalization. Regardless of the sisters’ variations, their mutual devotion is unshakeable, particularly within the sixth episode, “Do No Hurt,” once they’re imprisoned and starvation putting collectively. In a simply world, each could be up for appearing Emmys.
“Say Nothing” additionally honors time and place by way of its soundtrack, one thing Keefe clearly did not have to fret about. In “Land of Password, Wink, and Nod,” “Huge Time” by ’70s Belfast band Rudi performs because the Value sisters run away from their financial institution theft. Episode director Lennox levels the theft itself with unease, emphasizing the women’ clumsiness as criminals. It is solely as they run dwelling free that pleasure, and the suitable music, hits. Conversely, in episode 5, “Evil Little Maniacs,” the ominous (and anachronistic) folks music “Satan’s Spoke” by Laura Marling performs because the Costs put together to bomb London.
Although “Say Nothing” the TV collection stands on the shoulders of actual historical past and its supply materials, it did an impressive job adapting each — sufficient in order that it deserved extra recognition by the Emmys.
“Say Nothing” is streaming on Hulu in the US and Disney+ elsewhere.
