An Everlasting Piece

The premise of the course was that it wasn't enough to tell stories or tales. You had to tell them again and again until you got it 'right': Until it was perfect, and without flaw.

I thought of this course recently, while watching "An Everlasting Piece", the latest from director Barry Levinson, who is best known for such stories and tales as "Diner", "Wag the Dog", and "Rain Man".

In "An Everlasting Piece" there is a scene, for example, a tale, really, that goes to support what I speak: The hero's mother and his sister open the door to find his brother, passed out on the lawn. The mother and the sister drag him inside, strip him of his wet and ruined clothing, and dump him face-down on the sofa.

Then they find it isn't the brother at all.

There is a certain feel to this tale, this story, this scene that goes to suggest it has been told a thousand times before, and that just now it is 'right'.

Which may go to explain why, just now, this film was made. Barry McEvoy, who wrote the screenplay and stars in the film, has spent much time--obviously--telling stories and tales again and again, working them until they are done to perfection.

Now. About the actual premise of "An Everlasting Piece": It is about two barbers in a prison for the insane. One is Catholic, the other Protestant. They go into the hairpiece business in Northern Ireland and learn, quickly, that hairpieces, like everything in this particular place, have a way of being political.

Barry McEvoy plays Colm. Brian F. O'Byrne plays George. Colm got his job with regards to hairpieces because his girlfriend, Bronagh (Anna Friel), works in the aforementioned prison.

The job isn't the greatest, but the work is steady. Then comes word of a prisoner nicknamed 'the Scalper' (Billy Connolly), who went to jail because he tried too hard to make his hair wares the only ones in the market place.

The lads are bright, and see a market that needs to be served. They create a company called the Piece People. George sells to Protestants, Colm sells to Catholics. But they will forgo their religious beliefs if it means a sale.

Then comes trouble: A rival firm, Toupee or Not Toupee, sets up business and a nasty competition results.

Go To Page: 1 2