IMDb > Cal (1984)

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   663 votes
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Director:
Pat O'Connor
Writers:
Bernard MacLaverty (novel)
Bernard MacLaverty (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Cal on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 August 1984 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Thriller | Romance more
Tagline:
Out of Ireland's struggle, a passionate love is born.
Plot:
Cal, a young man on the fringes of the IRA, falls in love with Marcella, a Catholic woman whose husband... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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Awards:
Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(39 articles)
DVD Review: State Of Play
 (From FilmShaft.com. 17 September 2009, 7:27 AM, PDT)
Blu-Ray Review: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck in Thriller ‘State of Play’
 (From HollywoodChicago.com. 3 September 2009, 8:23 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
This realistic Irish film is a gem of the 80's more (5 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Helen Mirren ... Marcella
John Lynch ... Cal
Donal McCann ... Shamie
John Kavanagh ... Skeffington
Ray McAnally ... Cyril Dunlop
Stevan Rimkus ... Crilly
Catherine Gibson ... Mrs. Morton
Louis Rolston ... Dermot Ryan
Tom Hickey ... Preacher
Gerard Mannix Flynn ... Arty
Seamus Forde ... Mr. Morton
Edward Byrne ... Skeffington Sr
J.J. Murphy ... Man in Library
Audrey Johnson ... Lucy
Brian Munn ... Robert Morton
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
102 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Norway:15 | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland more
Company:
Enigma Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The third film that employed Mark Knopfler as composer. The first one was Local Hero (1983). more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Cal goes to Marcella's bedroom the camera scans the room and there is no hat on a chair but when he walks into the room there is a hat on the chair. more
Quotes:
Skeffington: Not to act is to act. By doing nothing, you're keeping the Brits here. more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
19 out of 23 people found the following comment useful.
This realistic Irish film is a gem of the 80's, 27 November 2000
9/10
Author: scrabjan from Haverhill, Massachusetts

I enjoyed this film very much particularly because of its Irish flavor. John Lynch is incredibly real as an IRA member(not of his own doing) who really hasn't the stomach for it. Everything about the film is as it should be. Lynch's long suffering Cal who has helped murder the Protestant husband of the woman he is now infatuated with is wonderfully portrayed. Day to day life of the people is almost like watching a documentary. Cal's guilt-ridden life couldn't be more boring from playing his guitar to borrowing tapes at the library to spying on Marcella all the time aware that the UVC will burn him and his "Da" out.

Love the Irish lingo and wit as well as the Uilleann pipes and traditional Irish soundtrack that make it sing. The sensual relationship between Cal and Marcella is bound to take off but you know it is doomed from the start. Two people searching for meaning in a harsh and lonely world. Helen Mirren gives another great performance as the unsatisfied older woman giving in to love. If you want to see a simple film about real people don't miss this sad, revealing tale.

One of my all time favorites.

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