MovieChat Forums > EvenHand (2002) Discussion > Does anyone know what the title means?

Does anyone know what the title means?


Out of curiosity, does anyone know what the title means?

I really enjoyed this film. Great ending, good build-up, well made to depict beat police. Definitely worthwhile.

reply

***warning: contains plot spoilers***
The screenplay's author, Mike Jones, never gave me a good answer to that question, but here's mine: one of the important themes in EvenHand is about finding balance between the job of being a police officer and life outside of the job. Cops who bring the job home every day tend to burn out. Morning's story shows us one of the extremes of this: he fails to find balance and in the end, it costs him his life. Francis, on the other hand, takes a more evenhanded approach to the job. Ultimately, it is that balanced and thoughtful approach that will allow him to survive, both on duty and in his new relationship with Jessica. While "evenhand" is not actually a real word, I feel that its suggestion of "evenhandedness" accurately represents one of the important themes in the film.
- Joseph Pierson, director of EvenHand (www.evenhand.com)

reply

On the official website, the director stated that it refers to the ability to balance the job and your personal life, an even hand so to speak. Morning struggles with this, and we all know what happens. On the other hand, Francis obviously had troubles balancing this in the past(hence the divorce), but is now committed to creating an "EvenHand".

reply

[deleted]

It has the above mentioned interpretations - the shakey hand under extreme stress, the balance of work and life - but c'mon, doesn't anybody also make the connection that it is a cop drama, and there is the expression 'the even hand of justice'? Towards the end of the movie, Francis starts delivering justice more intelligently and even handedly, while previously his partner had been making more snap and brutal decisions.

reply