Customer Reviews

The Dawning

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Dawning" is set in 1920's Ireland and the beginning of what is referred to as 'the troubles' or their war with England for independence.

Nancy (Rebecca Pidgeon) has just turned 18 and is getting ready to go off to university. She discovers "Cassius" (Hopkins) in an abandoned beach hut she'd claimed as her own.

Cassius tells her up front he's a dangerous man, but Nancy doesn't fear much. Orphaned at birth, she's lived well but on her own most of her life.

When he entrusts her with a mission, Nancy accepts and takes a message. 12 English soldiers are killed as a result.

The movie explores Irish times and politics after WWI and the dawning of the IRA. It's a slow film, but often the dawn does break slowly. Very well acted on Hopkins and Pidgeon's parts.

Rebecca Kyle, April 2009

I'm so surprised that no one has bothered to review this film before. I was searching to find what others thought of this film and here I am feeling as if I'm the only one lucky enough to have discovered it. The acting is superb (A-list actors all round), Rebecca Pideon in her film debut is absolutely radiant. All of the actors deliver incredible perfomances, even those that are only peripheral to the story. The film itself comes across as mysterious and strangely haunting. Pideon is quaint, intelligent and heartbreakingly vulnerable as a young girl whose innocence is shattered by Ireland's struggle for independence in the 1920's. Richly worth seeing. One of my favorite films of all time. And you won't just be following the crowd. I hope to come back to this site and read reviews posted by others.

I recently, 1 1/2 years ago, discovered the wonderful Anthony Hopkins. I rarely attended movie theaters and never saw one of his films until Shadowlands and became curious. I started searching out videos and have been pleasantly surprised at this wonderful actor. "The Dawning" has rated near the very top of his lengthy list of films. I found it haunting and yet strangely lovable and the innocent of the young people of a day gone by is so refreshing. The oceanside scenes are so wonderful and Mr Hopkins performance superb. A truly great discovery! I recommend it highly and watch it every so often.

A forty-ish gorgeous Anthony Hopkins. Set in Southern Ireland in 1920. He's a Republican. Armed Black & Tans (from Scotland) patrol the streets under martial law. I ordered this film & watched it 4 nites in a row. Haunting harp music from Simon May - cannot get it out of my head.This is a MUST SEE.

An Irish movie set in 1920. It starts kind of slow, like a period piece, but eventually picks up. It's about an older IRA gunman in hiding who befriends a wholesome and naïve (and well brought up) eighteen year old girl. It's a wonderful movie. And the history is authentic.

This was a good movie. Many times how I feel about a movie I am watching depends on my mood at the time and I was in the mood for a quiet, interesting flick.