Search - Evelyn [Special Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Adult Language Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 04/15/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 35 mins Studio: MGM Total Copies: 6 Genres: Drama, Period Film, Family Drama

One man takes on the Irish family law system and the Catholic Church in a bid to be reunited with his children in this drama, based on a true story. In 1953, Desmond Doyle (Pierce Brosnan) was a house painter and decorator who, despite a strong work ethic, had a hard time holding on to steady work. Desmond's wife had grown tired of her marriage and her husband's financial problems, and one day walked away from her home, leaving Desmond to raise their three children on his own. While Desmond struggles to keep body and soul together for his children, his sporadic employment eventually attracts the attention of the law, and a court order sends his two sons and young daughter to separate Catholic orphanages until Desmond can prove he's capable of properly supporting them. However, Desmond discovers merely getting work is not enough to bring his children back to him, and when he learns that his daughter, Evelyn (Sophie Vavasseur), is having a rough time of it at the hands of several stern nuns, he becomes determined to win their custody in a court of law. Through Bernadette (Julianna Margulies), a barmaid who has caught his eye, Desmond meets Michael Beattie (Stephen Rea), a lawyer and Bernadette's brother. While Michael doesn't believe Desmond's case can be won in an Irish court, his partner Nick Barron (Aidan Quinn), an expatriate American who lost custody of his own children in a divorce proceeding, is eager to help, and they agree to take the case. However, they both realize they're fighting an uphill battle, and so they persuade Thomas Connolly (Alan Bates), a former football star who became one of Ireland's most respected barristers, to lend his knowledge and prestige to the case. Leading man Bronson also served a co-producer for Evelyn; Bruce Beresford directed, who previously collaborated with Pierce Brosnan on Mister Johnson. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Pierce Brosnan - Desmond Doyle
Aidan Quinn - Nick Barron
Julianna Margulies - Bernadette Beattie
Stephen Rea - Michael Beattie
Sophie Vavasseur - Evelyn Doyle
Alan Bates - Thomas Connolly
John Lynch - Mr. Wolfe

Bruce Beresford's drama Evelyn comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, while Spanish and French soundtracks have been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. Subtitles are accessible in all three of those languages. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Beresford, a second commentary track featuring star Pierce Brosnan and producer Beau St. Clair, a featurette on the real story that inspired the film, a making-of featurette, a still photo gallery, and the original theatrical trailer. This is a strong release of a little-seen film from MGM/UA. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide