Ameriatch One of the best films i have seen

Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

GetPapa Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

Delight Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Martin Bradley Whatever qualities are to be found in Pat O'Connor's film version of Brian Friel's "Dancing at Lughnasa" they are certainly not the qualities that made the play one of the masterpieces of Irish theater. Indeed, if anything, this screen version is something of a travesty. In adapting the play Frank McGuinness has not only abridged it but has virtually rewritten it, taking out passages that were in the original and inserting scenes and characters that are either pure invention or were only spoken of in the stage version.On the plus side, it is well-acted. As the Mundy sisters Kathy Burke, Brid Brennan, Sophie Thompson and Catherine McCormack are excellent. Surprisingly, it's Meryl Streep, in the pivotal role of the oldest sister Kate, who lets the side down. It's almost as if Streep was afraid to outshine her co-stars and was holding back; it's one of her least good performances. On the other hand, both Michael Gambon as the returning brother, (a part blown up from what it was in the play), and Rhys Ifans as the man who has impregnated the youngest sister, are fine. The film, too, isn't bad for what it is; what it isn't is a screen version of the Brian Friel play.

bkoganbing Although there is no real plot to Dancing At Lughnasa it's a character study set in time and place, the time and place of a small town in James Craig's Ulster of 1936 is perfectly realized and filmed. Dancing At Lughnasa has the look and feel of The Quiet Man although the subject is far more serious.Five Irish sisters who for one reason or another have not taken a husband live hand to mouth only supported by eldest sister Meryl Streep's meager salary as a schoolteacher. The rest do odd jobs and survive the best they can. The other four sisters are Brid Brennan, Sophia Thompson, Catherine McCormick, and Kathy Burke. McCormick has had a child out of wedlock played by Darrell Johnston and the sisters are raising him. Meryl has the steady job and she's the oldest and she bosses the others. Brid Brennan doesn't take anything off her, but the others more or less follow her lead.Into the mix comes their older brother Michael Gambon who is a priest who is showing signs of what we would now call Alzheimer's Disease. He was a missionary in Africa, but his order has retired him. Also making an appearance is Rhys Ifans who is the father young Mr. Johnston. He's not staying long he's going off to Spain to fight for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. He's an interesting character because in Ireland, North or South, there would many who would more than likely fight for the Fascist military insurgency as the Catholic Church was a staunch bastion of support.In Ifills case though in his defense, jobs are not to be had in that country which was only slowly recovering from its war for independence and the civil war that followed. A reason, not the best of one, for him not staying around to help raise his kid.Eugene O'Neill could have written Dancing At Lughnasa it has his pessimistic style and its characters are deep if the plot is almost non-existent. Of course O'Neill never did create really good female characters except for the mother in Long Day's Journey Into Night.Brian Friel's play was originally presented by the Abbey Theater in Dublin who some will argue is the best repertory company in the world. It later moved to Broadway where only Brid Brennan repeats her role for the film. That was probably a good thing because she won a Tony Award for Best Actress and the play itself won a Tony Award.Watching this you will not soon forget the Mundys of Ballybeg.

A_Roode I may be alone in this but I see movies for one of two reasons: I'm trying to learn and grow through the experiences of others or I am trying to escape from the real world for a little while and be entertained. 'Dancing at Lughnasa' is a poetic ode to ... well thematically it suggests that life is full of very brief but powerful moments of happiness. Seek out those moments and wring as much joy out of them as you can. Then basically you should enjoy the memories because life, according the film, is a crescendo of misery and tragedy that will destroy every good thing in it. If this sounds like the movie for you, be my guest. It falls quite neatly into the 'glad I saw it; happier never to see it again' category.There are great performances from all of the leads in this film. Meryl Streep turns in yet another great performance as the oldest of five sisters who is trying desperately to keep her family together. Michael Gambon gives an inspired performance as a damaged brother who returns to Ireland after 25 years as a missionary in Uganda. The interplay between all of the characters is wonderful, and from a technical standpoint I thought that the film was very well shot and directed.As depressing and as inevitable as the conclusion is, the story is very engaging and kept me hooked from start to finish. Overall not really my cup of tea but if, to paraphrase Hobbes, you like to be reminded that life is 'nasty, brutish and short' than this is the film for you. probably good to watch if you feel like being reminded of your own little miseries or, on the other hand, if you delight in seeing that others are much worse off than you.

marponder I just saw this movie on cable, and not having seen the play, was able to truly enjoy and relate to the people and situations portrayed in it. I can imagine that the play was deeper, etc. The same thing happens in adaptations of books into movies. But as someone who knew nothing at all about this movie, I was transfixed for the whole time I watched it and sad at the end. I recommend it highly, especially for lovers of Ireland, Irish drama, Meryl Streep, and the 30's. You won't be wasting your time!!***P.S. Is it considered a spoiler if you state that a film seemed sad to you? That is the only reason I added the spoiler notation. Or do you have to actually spell out what happened? Thanks.