Dancing at Lughnasa (film)

For the play, see Dancing at Lughnasa.

Dancing at Lughnasa
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Pat O'Connor
Produced by	Gerrit Folsom (line producer) Jane Barclay (executive producer) Sharon Harel Noel Pearson (producer) Rod Stoneman (executive producer - Bórd Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board)
Written by	Brian Friel (play) Frank McGuinness (screenplay)
Narrated by	Gerard McSorley
Starring	Meryl Streep Michael Gambon Catherine McCormack Kathy Burke Sophie Thompson Brid Brennan Rhys Ifans Lorcan Cranitch John Kavanagh Marie Mullen
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Classics
Release date(s)	November 13, 1998
Running time	95 minutes
Country	Ireland United Kingdom United States
Language	English

Dancing at Lughnasa is a 1998 film adapted from the Brian Friel play of the same title, directed by Pat O'Connor.

The movie competed in the Venice Film Festival of 1998. It won an Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor in a Female Role by Brid Brennan. It was also nominated for 6 other awards, including the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Feature Film and the Best Actress Award for Meryl Streep.

Cast and characters

• Meryl Streep – Kate Mundy
• Michael Gambon – Father Jack Mundy
• Catherine McCormack – Christina Mundy
• Kathy Burke – Maggie Mundy
• Sophie Thompson – Rose Mundy
• Brid Brennan – Agnes Mundy
• Rhys Ifans – Gerry Evans
• Darrell Johnston – Michael Mundy
• Lorcan Cranitch – Danny Bradley
• Peter Gowen – Austin Morgan
• Dawn Bradfield – Sophie McLoughlin
• Marie Mullen – Vera McLoughlin
• John Kavanagh – Father Carlin
• Kate O'Toole – Chemist

Reception and Awards

Although the film received average reviews (67% 'Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes), most critics praised the performance of the entire cast. Janet Maslin, critic of the New York Times said that "Meryl Streep has made many a grand acting gesture in her career, but the way she simply peers out a window in Dancing at Lughnasa ranks with the best. Everything the viewer need know about Kate Mundy, the woman she plays here, is written on that prim, lonely face and its flabbergasted gaze."^[1] Peter Travis of Rolling Stone magazine wrote that "a luminous cast reveals long-buried feelings. Meryl Streep finds the expansive soul behind prim schoolteacher Kate. And she is matched by Kathy Burke's bawdy Maggie, Brid Brennan's secretive Agnes, Sophie Thompson's slow-witted Rose and Catherine McCormack's bold Christina, who never married the father of her son."^[2] Darrell Johnston, the youngest of the cast was also nominated for a best young actor in a supporting role. A crowning achievement given this was his first real introduction to a Hollywood screen.

Kathy Burke received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress - Drama from the International Press Academy (Satellite Awards).

A display of mementos from the filming is on display at the St. Connell's Museum in Glenties.

References

1. ^ Maslin, Janet, 1998. The New York Times, Movie Review of Dancing at Lughnasa, Nov 13, 1998
2. ^ Travis, Peter. 1998. Rolling Stone Magazine, Movie Review of Dancing at Lughnasa

External links

• Dancing at Lughnasa at the Internet Movie Database
• Dancing at Lughnasa at AllRovi
• Dancing at Lughnasa at the Internet Broadway Database