THE POLITICS OF CLICHE

In the old days (the 1990s), it seemed like every Irish film played on nostalgic stereotypes. Now a new set of stereotypes have taken over. “Perhaps the moguls have simply updated their clichés – and, just as every Hollywood success spawns a raft of imitations, Irish films come in thematic waves. Rural melodrama is out; Dublin-based drug barons with dubious accents are in. It may not be much of a new wave, but at least it’s more exciting than the old one.” – The Sunday Times (UK) 07/09/00