Dancing at Lughnasa Movie Review 1998

Kate (Streep) is the eldest of five lonely unwed sisters living together on a farm in 1930s Ireland. Their brother Father Jack (Gambon) returns home, fresh from a stint as a missionary in Africa, and Gerry (Ifans), who fathered a son with sister Christina, turns up as well. The reunion and resulting emotions are the main elements in this anecdotal tale, but unfortunately most of the episodes are lacking energy and fun. Streep gives her usual impeccably accented performance, McCormack is sensual as Christina, but it's Ifans who delivers the only gusto as he readies to go to war in Spain. Adapted from the Tony Award-winning stage play by Brian Friels. Title refers to a pagan ritual the town engages in annually, and one would think just the dance alone should have led to a more energetic outing.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 92 minutes.
Originally from Irish, British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Brothers & Sisters, Ireland, Hard Knock Life, Adapted from a Play, Period Piece: 1930s, Family Drama

Screenplay

Frank McGuinness

Cast

Meryl Streep, Michael Gambon, Catherine McCormack, Rhys Ifans, Brid Brennan, Kathy Burke, Sophie Thompson, Lorcan Cranitch, Darrell Johnston, Peter Gowen, Dawn Bradfield, Marie Mullen

Cinematography

Kenneth Macmillan

Director

Pat O'Connor

Music

Bill Whelan

Producer

Sony Pictures Classics