Derry Girls 是一季六集,頗為「典型」的Channel 4製作的喜劇節目,像經典的Inbetweeners 或近期的The End of the F***ing World,同樣是短小精焊有關年輕人成長的瘋狂喜劇。最特別的是這次故事是發生在極少被媒體關注的北愛,年份是九十年代——更偏門的是背景不是北愛首都Belfast而是第二大城市Derry(又稱Londonderry)。
這些經歴都是創作人Lisa McGee參考自己在Derry 成長的故事。她2013年的喜劇 London Irish講述來自北愛Belfast 的年輕人在倫敦的故事,亦有類似的角度,不過此劇水準與反應都一般,結果只出一季便被取消。
另一邊廂,愛爾蘭同期又出產了受歡迎的電視劇The Young Offenders,正在BBC Three 播放。The Young Offenders原是導演 Peter Foott在2016年的電影,講述兩個在Cork 的問題少年Conor 及Jock 的成長故事。創作人將電影的故事The Young Offenders延長及重新編寫,由所有原有演員演出,令這個帶有寫實社會主義風格的喜劇故事在小螢幕重生,結果比原電影有更多的感情,內容更充實。兩個主角雖然常常在學校及街上製造麻煩,但這些問題原來都是家庭環境造成,他們實質心地善良,這相信是創作人為一眾問題青年人而寫的平反剖白。
當然,由電影變電視,你或者會聯想到This is England,確實兩者的焦點︰低下的草根階層與及街坊情懷是蠻接近。不過此劇的喜劇原素遠超寫實,實質更接近另一經典英國喜劇Shameless 。
聽著愛爾蘭樂隊Villagers 《Nothing Arrived》一陣子了,這首歌的歌詞寫得很簡單,卻又很真實又殘酷。Conor O’Brien寫的東西很黑暗,但又很美麗。I waited for Something, and something died. So I waited for Nothng, and Nothing arrived.這不就是人生的過程嗎?
明明知道肚子會變空的,為何還等待?我不再等待,就讓肚子一直空空。
Savanna scatters and the seabird sings
So why should we fear what travel brings?
What were we hoping to get out of this?
Some kind of momentary bliss?
I waited for Something, and Something died
So I waited for Nothing, and Nothing arrived
It’s our dearest ally, it’s our closest friend
It’s our darkest blackout, it’s our final end
My dear sweet Nothing, let’s start a new
From here all in is just me and you
I waited for Something and Something died
So I waited for Nothing, and Nothing arrived
Well I guess it’s over, I guess it’s begun
It’s a losers’ table, but we’ve already won
It’s a funny battle, it’s a constant game
I guess I was busy when Nothing came
I guess I was busy (when Nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when Nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when Nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when Nothing arrived)
I guess I was busy (when Nothing arrived)
I waited for Something and Something died
So I waited for Nothing, and Nothing arrived
I waited for Something and Something died
So I waited for Nothing, and Nothing arrived