The Grass Arena (19 Jan. 1992)

The Grass Arena is the true story of John Healy. Raised in an ultra religious family, with an abusive father, young Johnny soon learns that he has to learn to defend himself. He takes up ... See full summary »

Director:

Gillies MacKinnon

Writers:

Frank Deasy, John Healy (autobiography)

Stars:

Mark Rylance, Pete Postlethwaite, Lynsey Baxter

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Rylance	...	John Healy
Pete Postlethwaite	...	The Dipper
Lynsey Baxter	...	Madalena
Marian McLoughlin	...	Mrs. Healy
Billy Boyle	...	Mr. Healy
Andrew Dicks	...	Young John Healy
Nick Dawney	...	Young Terry Healy (as Nick Dawnay)
Simon Napper	...	Terry Healy
John Garrett	...	Albert
Brian Hall	...	George
Gerard Horan	...	The Sham
Clive Russell	...	Mac
Louis Mellis	...	Jock
Anna Keaveney	...	Liverpool Lil
Paddy Joyce	...	Kelly

Storyline

The Grass Arena is the true story of John Healy. Raised in an ultra religious family, with an abusive father, young Johnny soon learns that he has to learn to defend himself. He takes up boxing, but soon falls victim to alcholism. His boxing career over, John takes to the Grass Arena (the park) where he lives with other alcoholics.

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Plot Keywords:

boxing | alcoholic | chess | homelessness | independent film

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 1992 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

An excellent and moving film.

'The Grass Arena' is an excellent book and a remarkable film. Mark Rylance, of the Royal Shakespeare Company, is outstanding as John Healy.

What makes the film especially moving is that it shows true faith in the human potential. John Healy though living right to the point of utter destitution as a drunken vagrant finds salvation through chess. When he attempts to enter the elite world of chess masters his background is used against him. The pomposity of this narrow minded prejudice is well exposed in the film.

Unlike the film the book ends with John Healy trying to find solace through Buddhism and travelling to India. What is sad in both endings is that John's brutalisation, stretching from his father's boxing lessons to the alcoholism of the grass arena, make it very difficult for him to get close with women he is attracted to. A wonderful film and a great story.