Customer Reviews

Dancing at Lughnasa

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Directed by Pat O'Connor and exquisitely filmed (by Kenneth MacMillan) in the countryside of Donegal, this ensemble drama is adapted from the stage play by Brian Friel. Screenwriter Frank McGuinness sticks close to the dialogue of the play but opens up the rural cottage setting to include brief scenes of the town of Ballybeg, the stunning and untamed countryside, and the pagan harvest celebration, the Feast of Lughnasa. Set in 1936, the film focuses on the difficult lives of five unmarried sisters and an eight-year-old love child, when Ireland was on the verge of World War II and industrialization. The film stresses character and theme, rather than plot, highlighting the relationships among the sisters as they cope with the arrival of their brother, a priest returning from Uganda after twenty-five years, and the summer-long visit of Gerry Evans, father of Christina's child, Michael.

Kate (Meryl Streep), the sister who is "in charge," is the only real wage earner in the family. Rigid, severe, and lacking in humor, she believes pagan celebrations, such as the Feast of Lughnasa, which still provide fun and enjoyment in the countryside, are "uncivilized." Her priest brother (sensitively played by Michael Gambon), however, is now virtually a pagan himself. Though he is clearly unbalanced, he has learned the need of the poor for happiness, dancing, and community celebration, even if it is not church-sanctioned.

The other Mundy sisters help illustrate the chasm between Kate's attitudes and those of Fr. Jack. Maggie (Kathy Burke), the fun-loving, free-spirited, and most humorous of the sisters, constantly bursts into singing and dancing. Christina has fun during the summer with lover Gerry Evans but feels no need to marry him. Aggie (Brid Brennan) and Rose (Sophie Thompson), who earn small wages knitting gloves, work as the family's sad, "unpaid servants," and constantly chafe against Kate's strictures and the lack of fun. When Kate loses her job, the family is devastated, but it is at that moment that they discover the joy of dancing and recognize the need to celebrate life itself.

The dramatic opening with its photographs of African celebrations sets the tone for the film, and the music, sometimes featuring traditional Celtic instruments (accordian, fiddle, and bodhran), suggests common pagan roots. The cinematography is stunning, and the cast is as good as it gets. As is sometimes characteristic of plays converted to film, the dialogue is a bit exaggerated, as it has to be on stage, where close-ups and subtle gestures are not possible, and Streep's role is especially extreme, but the film is beautifully realized, and its thematic development is sensitive and memorable. Mary Whipple

Given the luxury of owning films via DVD collections offers the opportunity to revisit at will the works the viewer found worthy of purchase. Such is the case with the luminous 'Dancing at Lughnasa', a 1998 release by director Pat O'Connor to the tunes of a lilting screenplay by Frank McGuinness based on Brian Friel's 1990 play of the same name. Though low key and not a popular hit at the boxoffice, this is one of those rare films that combines a very simple tale about common folks brought to life by a cast of extraordinary actors.

The story is set in Donnegal, Ireland in 1936 (just before WW II)choked the world) and simply relates the life of a family of five single sisters and the love child of one of them. The action is spare, centering on the visit of their brother home from the missionary work in Uganda inalterably changed from the experience, on the loss of job of the supporting eldest sister, and the return of the errant father of the love child for the summer, and other daily challenges. The stresses and strains these small events play on the sisters is eventually climaxed in the dancing festival that marks the Feast of Lughnasa (a persistent pagan celebration that challenges the very Catholic foundation of the Irish community), a compelling event that parallels the returned priest brother from the mission fields where he has gained insight into the desperate need for community, happiness, dancing and celebration as the essential needs of humankind.

The cast is flawless: Meryl Streep is superb as the elder sister bitterly bound to holding the family together at all costs, Catherine McCormack as the mother of the lovechild, Kathy Burke, Sophie Thompson and Brid Brennan; Michael Gambon as the deranged returned brother; and Rhys Ifans as the errant father of the child. They interact and play like fine chamber music. The brilliantly green and gorgeous countryside is captured eloquently by Kenneth MacMillan. In every aspect of production the film fits like a tightly intertwined puzzle. It simply glows. Revisiting 'Dancing at Lughnasa' is an even finer trip than the first exposure. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, September 06

A man fondly recalls the summer of 1936, when he was eight years old in this Irish slice-of-life drama. Young Michael lives with his unmarried mother and her four spinster sisters, including Kate (Meryl Streep). The women make a meager living by knitting gloves, until a knitting factory opens nearby. Into their quiet and ordered lives comes their older brother, a priest who spent his life in Africa and has suffered a kind of breakdown, and Michael's long-unseen father, an adventurer who's on his way to fight against Franco.

This is a very quiet and slow-paced film. It succeeds in capturing the lifestyle, character, and beauty of the Irish countryside, when all that mattered was your family and church. There is very little action - a motor cycle ride, listening to the radio, and on one special night, dancing in the yard - but that makes the film even more poignant. Based on an autobiographical play, Dancing at Lughnasa is a raw, no-frills look back in time, with an art-house-film feel. Fans of Meryl Streep will enjoy her fine performance as the strict and melancholy eldest sister. Michael Gambon gives a sympathetic performance as the confused priest who has come home to die.

The story of the Mundy family of five sisters, a mentally disoriented brother, and a growing up boy would have been mundane and sleepy if poorly directed and mediocrelly cinematographed. This is not the case here. This is a beautifully done movie. The phasing is slow to heighten the ambience of the rural Irish countryside. It's like being thrown to that mid-30's era in rural Europe, far from the madding war drums. The acting by everone is top notch.

I watched this movie last night and thought it was excellent. It's a story about the adversity that 5 Irish sisters and their lone brother(recently returned from Africa) face when technology and a changing environment cause them to re-evaluate their lives. Rhys Ifans (best known as "Spike" in Notting Hill) is very good as the wandering boyfriend (and father of her child) of one of the sisters, played by Catherine McCormick. Meryl Streep is excellent as always and has no trouble mastering an Irish accent. This movie is definitely worth watching, but don't expect a happy Hollywood ending--it doesn't exist!

Enoyed very, very much. I laughed, cried, felt for the entire family. Dancing scene and MUSIC near the end was sensational!!!!! Meryl Streep was simply marvelous in this movie. I will cherish this one forever.
Pat Holohan

OUTSTANDING! Wonderful acting, beautiful scenery. I felt that the character development was grand. This movie was utterly charming, if bittersweet. I can't remember a movie in recent years that has touched me so much.

I am studying the play by Brian Friel, which is absolutely wonderful, the film whilst completely convincing and beautifully directed, strays from the original script occasionally, which is a shame, but essentially ends up not to matter, due to a few main factors, the direction really captures the nature and real essence of the play, and is beautifully done showing every actress and actor in their best light. and Meryl Streep is absolutely fantastic as the rather clipped, kate.
The Story is a tale following 5 sisters a son and a brother, and how they release and show their emotions through dancing to music from their new radio, which in the end contributes to the break down of the family. While the story ends sadly it is strangly uplifting.
It is a film i would recommend to people who enjoy a film which is incredibly honest and naturalistic. What is astounding is the way the concepts of the story linger in your mind and you eventually begin to notice a deeper meaning or reference.
A very understated film, which deserved a lot more credit and recognition.
Fabulous.

Brian Friel carries the torch for the great Irish playwrights. Lughnasa follows a family trying to adapt to modern Ireland, intimating Ireland's adaptation to a much larger world. It seems that, in some ways, pagan Ireland was better adapted to the world at large than is Christian Ireland.

This was one of the most beautiful films I have seen in a long while. The Irish countryside was portrayed with the eye of an artist. The characters were believable and powerful studies in humanity -- especially the Irish kind. My heart will always stop when I think of the scene where the family dances outside the cottage. Poignant is the word that comes to mind. I can't wait to see this film again.