![]() ![]() Initially, What Richard Did is presented as a fairly formulaic coming-of-age drama (although the cast are superb, with the ensemble displaying little of the inexperience that often plaques young adult performances). (Stephen Rennick’s minimalist music score and David Grennan’s gloomy cinematography are perhaps the sole signifiers of the story’s potentially unpleasant undertones). With the potential to tear multiple lives and families asunder, the event will also herald a dark, insidious secret pact too, one with enormous implications for Richard’s future and those of his friends, should it ever come to light.īased on an emotionally devastating screenplay by Malcolm Campbell, the first third of the film is paced a little on the slow side at only 88 minutes long in total, almost 35 minutes at the beginning are taken up by routine exposition, which suggests nothing of the tonal change about to take place. What will soon transpire is a shocking crime, the kind that leaves toxic residual effects potent enough to alter a personality and stain a life forever. Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to him at this stage, it will involve Richard himself. Indeed, someone has got a problem, and it’s going to be seismic. “Woah, where’s the love?” says one quietly from the passenger seat.” “Yeah, somebody’s got a problem” says the titular character Richard Karlson (Jack Reynor), a good-looking young student behind the wheel. Another vehicle overtakes and cuts in front of them the friends are in a good mood and don’t really care, but they feign indignation anyway, and remark on the infraction. The very first scene fades up to reveal three confident, jovial and clean-cut young men travelling together in a car through the streets of South Dublin. Lenny Abrahamson’s resonant and disturbing 2012 Irish drama What Richard Did opens on a light-hearted but symbolically portentous note. ![]()
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