Product Details

• Actors: Corban Walker, Niall Toibin, Owen Roe, Gabriel Byrne, Anne Parillaud
• Directors: Michael Lindsay-Hogg
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: New Line Home Video
• VHS Release Date: April 29, 1997
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304030762
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,898 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #12 in	Video > Art House & International > European Cinema > Ireland
  #27 in	Video > Drama > Love & Romance > Unrequited Love
  #32 in	Video > Drama > Family Life > Mothers & Sons

Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker
This Irish-set film about a self-pitying dwarf who writes a best-selling autobiography tries to be a warm and magical version of "My Left Foot"; it fails. Frankie's childhood tribulations are a series of sympathy-tugging moments, and the conceit that in his loneliness he turns for comfort to the constellations and their myths reeks of New Age inanity. The director, Michael Lindsay-Hogg, handles his chores with such sensitive skill that he drains the film of any real tension: the story sleepwalks mournfully from scene to scene, and the cast, which includes Anne Parillaud and Gabriel Byrne, follows meekly. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Product Description
The story of a dwarf born to a young French woman just after WW II, who lives his life by the stars, falls in love and becomes a literary celebrity when he publishes an "astronomical autobiography."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This will be one you remember for all the days of your life, August 12, 2002

By	Wendy Hughes-Jelen (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

There are very few films that are so well told, and uniquely and beautifully so, that when you come across one that touches you so tenderly, it will never leave you. I will never forget seeing this film, and will probably need to watch it a few more times in my lifetime. It's like a very good book, a familiar friend, that you greet again and again over the years, and remember after a brief moment. Pure peotry.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Wish More People Could See This, April 30, 2006

By	Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is one of the great "unknowns" in the movie world: a great film seen by very few people. I'm still waiting for the DVD but not holding my breath. Thankfully, my VHS is still good. But like anything good, we'd like to share this with others and most people have never heard of this movie.

For those sensitive souls who enjoy a fascinating portrait of an unusual person or persons that is both sad and uplifting, this is your ticket. It has both, in spades.....a haunting film you can't forget. It's a tragic tale yet has a happy ending of sorts and leaves you feeling satisfied.

What it is, and I can't remember if it is based on real-life situation, is the story of a woman who has a dwarf for a son and what happens to the two of them, beginning in France, moving to Ireland, over to the United States and then back to Ireland.

Along the way, the mother, played so sadly by French actress Anne Parillaud (the original La Femme Nikita), gets involved with two men: Gabriel Byrne and Matt Dillon. All three of these adults are really interesting, likable people, but nothing like the dwarf, who is played magnificently by two actors. Alan Pentony plays "Frankie" has a child and a more lovable kid would be hard to find. Corbin Walker does a great job of playing the adult "Frankie." Trust me: you will not forget either of them.

Walker narrates the film, telling it mostly in flashback style, from his best-selling book. In addition to his mom and the two father-figures in his life, is a short story of Frankie's love affair with astronomy and the stars, hence "Frankie Starlight."

The only profane character in the movie is the book publisher who has two short scenes. That, and two quick sex scenes, give it the "R" rating. Otherwise, this is wonderful old-fashioned storytelling, the kind that makes you really care about the characters.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, powerful, and wonderful film, August 28, 1998

By A Customer

This is one of the sweetest films I have ever seen. It's main character, Frankie Bois, is incredibly endearing. I wanted to give him a big hug. The cast is amazing with the great Gabriel Byrne and Matt Dillon. I just loved this movie. It calls out to your heart and soul. It was just great. Also, set in Ireland which makes it all the better. END