"An Everlasting Piece" is a real one-off, and while there's much to enjoy in this quirky little tale, it will probably spend as much time in British cinemas as slapheads everywhere spend down their local hairdressers.
Barry McEvoy based his screenplay on his father's experiences as a wig salesman in Northern Ireland, flogging syrups on both sides of the religious divide while all hell broke loose around him. McEvoy also stars in the film as Catholic crimper Colm, who joins forces with Protestant clipper George (Brian F O'Byrne) to fill the gap in the market left by the temporary incapacity of Connolly's eccentric hairpiece merchant (nicknamed 'The Scalper' because he has taken to depilating his clients).
With help from Colm's girlfriend Bronagh (Friel), the men set out to secure exclusive access to Ulster's baldies by signing a deal with a London firm. But first they must outsell a rival couple of chancers and reconcile the demands made on their services by both the IRA and the British Army.
Though packed with colourful anecdotes and wacky incidental detail, audiences may feel the situation across the Irish Channel is still too volatile to permit such playful irreverence.