Dancing At Lughnasa
by Pat O'Connor
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Catherine McCormack, Gerard McSorley, Kathy Burke, Meryl Streep, Michael GambonDirector: Pat O'Connor
Brand: STREEP,MERYL
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 95 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-06-15
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Dancing At Lughnasa
Movie Review: This is a great film.....
Summary: 5 Stars
My husband and I saw DANCING AT LUGHNASA at the Kreeger Theatre here in Washington DC, and it was magical. The little white cottage on the stage glowed in the dark under a full moon. I wanted to see the film because I had seen the play and loved it. As the mother of two thespians and the friend of a Tony winner, I am forever interested in the translation of a stage play to the screen. I think the producer Noel Pearson (MY LEFT FOOT), the screen writer Frank McGuinness (Tony winner), and director Pat O'Conner (CIRCLE OF FRIENDS) have created a wonderful movie adaptation of Brian Friel's play. I don't expect a screen play to mimic a "staged" play, but if you're familiar with the stage play and you expect the film to be identical, you may be disappointd. I think a screen play is simply another artistic expression. The tale told in DANCING AT LUGHNASA is magical and realistic and sad and could be interpreted as "anti-Catholic" by some, but perhaps it isn't anti-catholic as much as its inclusive of other points of view. The five Mundy sisters, their son and nephew, and priest brother returned from missionary work in Africa, as well as Christina's errant lover (father of Michael) live life on the edge. Yet inspite of their poverty, want and worry, they all find love and beauty this one magical summer when Michael's father comes for a short visit before departing to fight the church in Franco's Spain, and the Mundy brother (Michael Gambon) returns from Africa--where the natives have converted him to their religion instead of vice versa.
It's coming up on August, the month of Lugh the old Celtic God of Light. The "pagans" light bonfires on the hills to celebrate Lugh. The Mundy brother speaks of the rising of the White Goddess into heaven. August 15 is the feast of Mary's Assumption into Heaven. Michael says for the first and only time in his life, that summer he had all seven people who loved him in his life at the same time.
My DVD had fabulous clarity-Michael's runaway kite in the opening shots, Rose's beautiful white pet rooster, the vases of roses the Mundy women place in their rooms, the delicious blackberries, the fabulous governer's hat, the shots across Ireland--all are beautiful. My only complaint, and it's true of most DVDs--is that I could not read the credits at the end but that may be owing to the size of my tv screen.
By the way, the Holy Water Ages sprinkles near the end of the film is really fairy dew (check out Midsummernight's Dream). That's what I love about the Catholic Church, it preserved all those wonderful old ways.
Summary of Dancing At Lughnasa
Five sisters living in Ireland on the brink of World War II must contend with a variety of disrupting family issues while struggling to make ends meet.Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG
Release Date: 15-JUN-1999
Media Type: DVD
This affecting, bittersweet tale--adapted from Brian Friel's semi-autobiographical Tony Award-winning play--examines the emotional lives of the five unmarried Mundy sisters in 1936 rural Ireland. In their mutual care is 8-year-old Michael (sweetly understated Darrell Johnston), the illegitimate son of youngest sister Christina (Braveheart's Catherine McCormack). A voice-over from the adult Michael recalls that significant summer, in the month of August, during the feast of Lughnasa. The bolder townfolk dance around a fire to Lugh, an ancient god of light. Yes, this is fiercely Roman Catholic Ireland and Lugh a pagan god, but that irony is at the core of the film, the hypocrisy of tradition. The dramatic change in the richly metaphoric movie comes with the arrival of two men: eldest sibling--and only Mundy brother--Jack (Michael Gambon), a priest returning from many years in Africa, now addled, and Christine's long-absent lover and Michael's father, the charmingly flighty Gerry (Rhys Ifans). Beautiful music and excellent performances highlight the film, which also features gorgeous cinematography of the Irish countryside. Meryl Streep is stern eldest sister Kate; Kathy Burke is lively Maggie; Brid Brennan (who appeared in the stage play) is thoughtful caretaker Agnes; and Sophie Thompson is simple sweet Rose. It's a quiet film, but one filled with ironic and haunting meaning. Directed by Pat O'Connor (Circle of Friends). --N.F. Mendoza
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