Search - Dancing at Lughnasa on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Adult Situations Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 06/15/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 34 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 9 Genres: Drama, Period Film

Irish director Pat O'Connor helmed this adaptation of Brian Friel's 1990 play which won three Tony awards in addition to UK Olivier and Evening Standard awards. Friel's portrait of five Irish sisters takes place in 1936 on a Donegal farm. The unmarried Mundy sisters are barely surviving. Middle-aged schoolteacher Kate (Meryl Streep) is the eldest, overseeing pretty Christina (Catherine McCormack), lively Maggie (Kathy Burke, re-creating her Tony award-winning role), reliable Agnes (Brid Brennan), and Rose (Sophie Thompson), who has a secret affair with a married man. Christina is the mother of eight-year-old Michael (Darrell Johnston), beneficiary of much attention from his four aunts. The story of a turning-point summer is told in retrospect by the adult Michael and begins when the sisters welcome their older brother Jack (Michael Gambon) as he returns home from missionary work in Africa. Michael's father Gerry Evans (Rhys Ifans) makes an unexpected arrival, winning back both Michael and mom before joining the International Brigade to fight Franco in Spain. Kate loses her teaching position, and the sister's income from their handwoven clothing is threatened by the announced opening of a woolens factory. Shown at 1998 fests (Venice, Toronto). ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Meryl Streep - Kate Mundy
Michael Gambon - Father Jack Mundy
Catherine McCormack - Christina Mundy
Kathy Burke - Maggie Mundie
Sophie Thompson - Rose Mundy
Brid Brennan - Agnes Mundy

The Irish drama Dancing At Lughnasa comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo, and English, Spanish, and French soundtracks are accessible. Supplemental materials include theatrical trailers and filmographies of the cast. Although there is a lack of quality extras on this release, the film itself transfers well to the small screen; the performances seem to be all the more intimate. Meryl Streep's fine performance may be a special enough feature to interest film fans in this DVD. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide