It is a vast story, including coverage of his time in the United States, becoming a U. S. citizen and being active as an American Communist Party member and candidate for office, according to records researched in preparation for the film. We get some early photos of street scenes in New York to swiftly indicate that part of history, then catapult into his return in March, 1932, to County Leitrim in Ireland, where he had grown up, and events there, with flashbacks to occurrences before he left for the States.

The overall subject is huge, but the story is told mainly through Jimmy, played with a savvy balance between charisma and modesty by the excellent actor Barry Ward. The hall in the title refers to the local community center that Jimmy had organized before going to America, and upon his return is a wreck. Locals who have regarded him as a hero urge him to establish it again, and after first demurring, he agrees and it is rebuilt by community labor.

The center becomes a place for dancing to jazz music records that Jimmy has brought back, classes taught in various subjects—in general a spirited haven of joy and commitment where young and old can thrive. This infuriates Father Sheridan, skillfully portrayed with angry bias by Jim Norton, who wants to keep control of local education, sees the hall as a communist threat and aligns himself with authorities determined to abolish the hall and deport Jimmy.

Loach and Lavery have the record to go on, but there is little information n Jimmy’s personal life, leaving an opening for fictionalizing a story while attempting to adhere to historical truth. For example, a key film character is Oonagh, played with quiet charm by Simone Kirby. Jimmy and Oonagh develop a strong emotional attraction before Jimmy leaves Ireland, and by the time he has returned, she is married and with children. The film demonstrates continued feelings for one another, but doesn’t plunge into an affair.

We get a sense of joy in the depiction of activities at the hall, then a sense of foreboding as Jimmy is drawn into the movement to prevent poor tenants from evictions by landowners. A major part of the story concerns confrontations between Jimmy and Father Sheridan, as Jimmy attempts to convince the priest that the devil is not at work in the hall, and the priest, while impressed with Jimmy’s passion, remains bent on maintaining church control and his alliance with those ruling the country.

Loach is a master at building atmosphere and providing a sense of realism to characters by the way in which he works with actors. For example, Alleen Henry plays Alice, Jimmy’s mother, very convincingly. It is made clear that in raising Jimmy she placed great importance on education and is sympathetic to his aims. We can admire Alice as in one scene she cleverly helps Jimmy to escape.