John Boorman's film presents Ireland in a light that the leprechaun brigade would hardly recognise. This is the country with the largest divide between rich and poor in Europe, its streets full of drunken young people and clogged up with traffic. Added to that, its health service is at breaking point.
In this atmosphere, property developer Liam (Brendan Gleeson) is in his element. But one day, driving home in his Mercedes, he sees his double. He thinks he's having hallucinations and perhaps a harbinger of death. But it's his identical twin (also Gleeson), separated at birth by his mother and now a bum who would like to get hold of his identity. The intended switch, however, doesn't seem so attractive when the property developer makes a mistake that leads into bankruptcy.
Written as well as directed by Boorman, this is a comedy that loathes the incipient greed of the Celtic Tiger and is principally designed to cause the rich man to examine himself with a rheumy eye. But there's a sour tone to the proceedings which makes it difficult to relate to either of the twins, however solidly Gleeson plays them. The Tiger's Tail is an intriguing film - but not a very satisfying one.
The Tiger's Tail
Cert: 18
