Far and Away Movie Guide

The movie begins in Ireland in 1893. Joseph’s family are tenants, meaning they rent land from a landlord. They have not been able to pay the rent in a long time; they have not harvested any crops to sell for money. Joseph is hardworking, but his father and brothers are not.

Fill in the blank or use a short answer.

  1. On his deathbed, Joseph’s father tells him, “Without ______, a man has nothing. ______is a man’s very own soul.
  1. What does the landlord’s worker do on the day of Joseph’s father’s funeral?

Notice that guns are scarce and hard to find… people keep their guns for a long time.

  1. Joseph sets off on his donkey to do what?
  1. What does Daniel Christie’s house look like?

Notice how different his house is from Joseph’s house, and how this would make the tenant farmers feel, especially when they were treated with such injustice.

  1. How is Joseph wounded?
  1. Describe the attitude and personality of Daniel Christie’s daughter, Shannon:
  1. Shannon asks Joseph to travel to America with her as her servant boy. What does she want to do in America?
  1. How does Shannon save Joseph?
  1. When they arrive in Boston, how does Joseph help Shannon?

Notice that there is a significant difference in Joseph and Shannon’s social standing and religion. He is a working-class Catholic and she is a wealthy Protestant. Historically in Ireland these two groups did NOT get along. Those feelings have carried over to America.

  1. How has Joseph become such a good boxer/fighter? (Remember the beginning of the movie)
  1. Why does the man, Mike Kelly, say he will help Joseph and Shannon find jobs and a place to stay? (What does he want from them?)
  1. Describe the place where Mike takes them to live:
  1. What are they saving their money for as they work in Boston?
  1. What happens that makes Shannon’s parents decide to move to America to find her?
  1. Joseph changes jobs and begins to make more money. What is his new job?
  1. Joseph at first refuses to fight the Italian fighter; but the offer of $200 changes his mind, as well as Shannon urging him to do it. What causes him to lose the fight?
  1. What does the “ward boss” Mike Kelly do to Joseph when he loses the fight?

Notice that when Mike Kelly “banishes” them, even their friends are too fearful to help the two, because then Mike will punish them, too. Notice that when searching for work, Joseph finds it especially difficult because many people will not hire Irishmen.

  1. How does Shannon get shot?
  1. What does Joseph do after he leaves Shannon?
  1. What is Joseph’s job on the railroad?
  1. What makes Joseph get off the train (of what does he have a vision)?
  1. Who does Joseph encounter in the Oklahoma Territory? ______What is she doing there?
  1. There is a brief shot of some Native Americans standing on the bandstand, watching all the white people lined up, waiting to run in “The Great Land Race.” As this land was in their family for generations and generations, what do you think is going through their minds?
  1. Describe a scene from the Land Race:
  1. Why do you think Joseph lowers the green flag instead of claiming the land?
  1. What was a part of the movie that you especially liked?