Traveller (1997)

Traveller Poster

A young man, Pat, visits the clan of gypsy-like grifters (Irish Travellers) in rural North Carolina from whom he is descended. He is at first rejected, but cousin Bokky takes him on as an apprentice. Pat learns the game while Bokky falls in love and desires a different life. Written by Jeff Hole

Overview
"Travellers" is a 1997 American independent drama film concentrating on the culture of Irish-American Travellers. Jack N. Green directed the movie while Bill Paxton, Mark Wahlberg, and Julianna Margulies played the prominent functions. The story revolves around the life of a man who, after his father's death, reconnects with his Irish-Traveller roots, gets involved in cons and deceit, and experiences the low and high associated with their way of life.

Plot Summary
The film opens with the protagonist, Pat O'Hara (Mark Wahlberg), mourning his daddy's death and looking for to rejoin the concealed and rarefied world of the Irish Traveller neighborhood, which he was estranged from. Bokky, played by Bill Paxton, an experienced veteran in the neighborhood, takes Pat under his wing after learning that Pat's late father was an accomplished scam artist in the community.

The movie dives into the culture and traditions of Irish Travellers in the American South, showing their special lifestyle, which primarily includes running rip-offs on regional, unsuspecting victims. Bokky and Pat, along with their buddy, Double D, participate in varied schemes, evolving from minor frauds to more intricate and risky cons, as their bond enhances over time.

Romantic Subplot and Conflict
While advancing their cons, Bokky falls for a non-Traveller woman called Jean, portrayed by Julianna Margulies. Even though their relationship is frowned upon by his community, Bokky treasures Jean and is willing to leave his Traveller life for her. His choice to inform Jean the fact about his mischief and deceits initiates inner conflict within the group, thus developing a tension-filled plot that connects significant occasions throughout the film.

Climax and Conclusion
The climax of the film includes an extreme con operation the trio perform, involving offering a made "uncommon" Irish coin to an unwary rich mark. Sadly, the operation goes sour, ending with Bokky getting shot, thus exposing the dark side of their deceitful world. Barely surviving, Bokky manages to get away with Jean and ends up being a settled person, renouncing the peripatetic Traveller way of life.

The film concludes revealing that although Pat and Double D handle to manage their final fraud getting a significant sum, Pat chooses to return the cash, not wishing to lead a life of deceit any longer. The film ends with Pat and Double D avoiding into unidentified futures, while Bokky discovers peace in a settled life with Jean.

Styles
"Traveller" is essentially about relationship, trust, deceit, and the pursuit of an appealing yet perilous lifestyle. It presents the paradoxical world of the Irish Traveller neighborhood, where loyalty is revered yet deception forms the living crux. It likewise checks out the theme of identity, with characters continuously having a hard time to incorporate their Traveller identity in the settled world, resulting in self-realization and significant life options. This film offers an appealing insight into a seldom seen cross-section of American society, juxtaposing the traditional and modern ways of life.

In conclusion, "Traveller" is an engaging film that delves into the elaborate world of the Irish Traveller neighborhood, opening the viewer's eyes to a culture soaked in deceptiveness and nomadic tradition. With an engaging plot and amazing efficiencies, the film successfully brings to life the subtleties of their lifestyle, imbued with an array of life lessons.

Top Cast

  • Bill Paxton (small)
    Bill Paxton
    Bokky
  • Mark Wahlberg (small)
    Mark Wahlberg
    Pat
  • Julianna Margulies (small)
    Julianna Margulies
    Jean
  • James Gammon (small)
    James Gammon
    Double D
  • Nikki DeLoach (small)
    Nikki DeLoach
    Kate
  • Luke Askew (small)
    Luke Askew
    Boss Jack Costello
  • Danielle Keaton
    Shane
  • Andrew Porter
    Pincher
  • Jean Speegle Howard (small)
    Jean Speegle Howard
    Bokky's Grandmother
  • Rance Howard (small)
    Rance Howard
    Farmer
  • Robert Peters (small)
    Robert Peters
    Farmer's Son