The Irishman

What is it?

An American crime drama that follows the story of real life gangster Frank Sheeran, nicknamed ‘The Irishman’. Frank is a Second World War veteran who becomes a part of the mob and a high official in the labour union, working alongside some of the most notorious figures from the 20th Century.

Spanning decades, an elderly Frank recounts his life, starting from after the war and details all the key moments in his mob career. He talks about how he progresses up the ranks as he is highly recognised for “painting houses,” code for carrying out mob hits. He also details the strong connections he makes with the various members of the mob. In particular, he focuses on his relationship with the Bufalino crime family. Later, the film highlights Frank’s connection to the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, his close friend and the former president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

What to expect

The film is an epic saga of organised crime, highlighting mob dynamics and relationships. It includes gun violence and fistfights. The film is long and slow paced, but manages to remain compelling with a thought-provoking ending. It is intended for a mature audience due to its slow pace and high-art cinematic style.

Although infrequent, the violent spikes are likely to shock and disturb children. They are well spaced through the film’s runtime of over three hours, and the main focus of the film is on Frank’s personal relationships and the dynamics in the mob. While children are likely to be adversely affected by the violence, teenagers and adults are likely to be able to contextualise it within its context of 1950s-70s organised crime, which they are likely familiar with. The film also contains the frequent use of highly offensive language.