Turning Green 2009

Seventeen-year-old James Powers (Killian Morgan) has found himself trapped in Ireland for the past six years, following the death of his mother, which forced him and his younger brother Pete to live with their aunts. As an American teenager, he struggles to fit in amidst the stunning rolling hills and rugged coastline of rural Ireland. Life has turned into a series of letdowns—school feels pointless, his boredom is palpable, and his xenophobic tendencies only deepen his sense of alienation. Each day, he longs for the distant comfort of the United States. To get by, he juggles odd jobs and occasionally places small bets at the local bookmaker’s office, managed by Bill (Alessandro Nivola), but these ventures yield little fruit.

The two people who truly grasp his plight are his brother Pete, who surprisingly has adapted quite well to their new surroundings, and Tom (Colm Meaney), a rough-around-the-edges fisherman with a heart of gold. After Tom suffers losses at the betting office, James decides to help him sell his boat to pay off his debts—a choice that provides him with the funds necessary to address his own financial struggles. Understanding Tom’s grouchy demeanor has allowed James to see a fatherly figure in him, filling a void left by his own father’s absence.

James is infatuated with Fiona, the most beautiful girl in town, yet his lack of self-confidence keeps him from approaching her. His oblivious aunts grow increasingly concerned over his behavior, noticing he spends excessive time locked away in the bathroom. In a bid to address their worries, they send him to London for a few days to consult a medical specialist—an arrangement that unexpectedly unveils new opportunities.

While in London, James stumbles upon a potential escape route from Ireland’s constraints: the world of pornography, clandestine on the Emerald Isle. He strikes a deal with a clever newsagent, agreeing to import forbidden materials to his hometown, before striking up sales with eager Irish patrons using connections made during his time with Bill. To kickstart this venture, he uses the cash from Tom, a decision that sets off a volatile chain of events.

Upon returning to Ireland’s picturesque landscapes, James encounters the two Bills, their conversation intertwining business matters with typical banter in a racetrack toilet. Bill the Bookie becomes suspicious as he probes James about his financial affairs before taking his leave. Knowing he used Tom’s money for the magazines, James fabricates a story, claiming no profits had been made prior to his departure. Unfortunately, this lie spirals into unforeseen consequences.

Bill the Breaker, sensing vulnerability, takes his chance and violently confronts James, delivering a brutal beating that serves as a harsh warning—caution is essential, or retribution will follow. Terrified, James rushes to Tom’s home, only to find his friend battered from his own fierce altercation with Bill.

Tom’s anger flares, and he expels James from his life, deepening James’ sense of isolation. As he meanders through his bleak existence, he finds solace in daydreams of a breathtaking model from one of the magazines, who beckons him to sell her image and earn his fortune.

Despite his recent trauma and Tom’s dismissal, James plunges ahead, quickly trading a shipment of magazines that ignites a sudden entrepreneurial spirit in him. His venture booms, prompting him to target local retailers and branch out into neighboring towns. As success blooms, James starts to see himself as a harbinger of change for Ireland, encouraging its people to embrace economic independence.

As he edges closer to breaking free from the limitations of the Emerald Isle, his perception of home shifts dramatically. He begins to appreciate life’s simple joys and musters the courage to ask Fiona out on a date. Tom receives a kind gesture from James—a larger boat—with James’ aunts gradually becoming less overbearing.

Amidst this turmoil, Bill the Bookie grows increasingly intrigued by the sudden influx of illicit magazines, eventually tracing their source back to London. Realizing that James orchestrates this underground operation, he becomes hell-bent on putting a stop to it, driven by the knowledge that only James wields the intelligence and skill to disrupt his own illegal ventures.

Just when James starts to rethink his skewed understanding of Ireland, Bill embodies the role of fate, leading him to a moment of reflection atop a windswept cliff, where he is forced to grapple with the consequences of his choices.