Cal (1984)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Pat O'Connor

Writers:

Bernard MacLaverty (novel)
Bernard MacLaverty (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 August 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Romance

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...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Guilt | Library | Northern Ireland | Police Officer Killed

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

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

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

Company:

Enigma Productions

Trivia:

John Lynch's first film.

Goofs:

Continuity: Cal buys a present and puts it in his coat pocket but it disappears as he continues to walk.

Quotes:

Skeffington: Not to act is to act. By doing nothing, you're keeping the Brits here.

This realistic Irish film is a gem of the 80's

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.