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The Boys and Girl From County Clare by John Irvin
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DVD detailsActor: Andrea Corr, Bernard Hill, Charlotte Bradley, Colm Meaney, Shaun Evans Director: John Irvin Brand: First Look Pictures Producer: Antony Rufus-Isaacs Producer: Bill Kenwright Producer: Christopher Milburn Producer: David Korda Producer: Deborah Shaw Producer: Dieter Stempnierwsky Writer: Nicholas Adams DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1 Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC Picture Format: 1.78:1 Running Time: 90 minutes DVD Release Date: 2005-07-12 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Studio: First Look Pictures
DVD Reviews of The Boys and Girl From County ClareDVD Review: Irish Music at its Best! Summary: 5 Stars
Brother against brother is the overarching theme of this gem of a movie, but the driving force throughout is its music. I've always enjoyed Irish music, but until watching this film, I had never heard of a ceili band. Now I'll be on the lookout for a CD or two.
Oh yeah, the brother against brother thing? It's a conflict that's contested through music, in this case the annual Ceili Band Contest. Two brothers, John Joe, the older one stayed on the farm in Ireland, while Jimmy left for Liverpool shortly after getting his girlfriend pregnant. After 26 years of estrangement, Jimmy returns to the ceili competition with his band, hoping to interrupt the two year championship reign of John Joe's band. Avoiding the fray thus far is a third brother Padjo, a missionary priest off in Africa. At least we think Padjo has been avoiding the fray.
John Joe (Bernard Hill from the Lord of the Rings series) is a man at peace with himself and his music, although not so much at peace that he can't respond to the imminent arrival of his sibling's band with a delaying dirty trick or two. His band includes the scorned girlfriend of his brother, Maisie, and her daughter, Ann (luminously played by Andrea Corr of The Corrs musical group).
Jimmy (Colm Meaney from The Commitments and The Snapper, two other excellent Irish movies) has led a materially prosperous life in Liverpool that's been somewhat emotionally bereft; as evidenced by his testy attitude and his multiple ex-wives. His band features a mix of old pro musicians along with some young talent that provokes his ire with an occasional foray into jazz.
The bands serve as musical Montagues and Capulets, as Ann meets and falls in love with Teddy (Shaun Evans). Ann has never met her father, and Maisie would have never come to the competition had she known that Jimmy would be there.
Well then, brotherly conflict, an embittered fallen woman of a certain age, a young woman conflicted about the father she never knew, and young lovers from different factions of a competition... is that enough to keep your interest?
To be honest though, you could almost ignore the successful efforts of a marvelous cast and a great story that is well told, because the music is fantastic! I haven't felt this good since I saw "Brassed Off" (a similar movie about a brass band competition England). And as John Joe remarks at one point, "if you have the music... you're never alone."
More The Boys and Girl From County Clare reviews: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Description of The Boys and Girl From County ClareBOYS AND GIRL FROM COUNTY CLARE - DVD Movie
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