Distant Voices, Still Lives

The only other movie that i have seen that was not shot in chronological order was Pulp Fiction. At first i did not enjoy trying to piece together bits and parts just to try and make sense of a particular event; but as i continued to watch the movie, it all began to make sense little by little. Obviously the father is characterized as a heartless human being, this is made obvious when he beats his daugther with a broom stick after she does back breaking chores just to be able to go to a dance. Even though i feel as if the father is heartless, I felt as if the father was dependant on his family, and always needs to be with them until his death (as shown when he signs himself out of the hospital only to go die in his families presence).
I found fades from scene to scene throughout the movie to be interesting as well. While the father was alive, the movie always used fades to black. I felt this was showing how the rest of the family felt with the father around (dark, lifeless) but when the father passes away, the next half of the movie fades to white. I felt the fades to white helped to show that a sort of burden was lifted from the family, also because new life (with a newborn baby as an addition to the family).

As for the singalongs, i agree with Jason; they do help create mood throughout the movie. As an example, while friends and family are enjoying beer and spirits at the local pub, everyone seemed to join in singing more upbeat and positive songs.
Overall i seemed to find an apprectiation for this film. I enjoyed it.