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Heavenly Pursuits (1985)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
3 September 1987 (Australia) morePlot:
Vic Mathews teaches a remedial class at the Blessed Edith Semple School in Scotland. Some at the school... more | add synopsisUser Comments:
A great little film... moreCast
(Credited cast)| Tom Conti | ... | Vic Mathews | |
| Helen Mirren | ... | Ruth Chancellor | |
| David Hayman | ... | Jeff Jeffries | |
| Brian Pettifer | ... | Father Cobb | |
| Jennifer Black | ... | Sister | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Dave Anderson | ... | Headmaster | |
| Moica Brady | ... | Radiologist | |
| Ewen Bremner | ... | Stevie Deans | |
| Tom Busby | ... | Brusse | |
| Juliet Cadzow | ... | Woman Teacher | |
| Doreen Cameron | ... | Nurse | |
| Robert W. Carr | ... | Night Editor | |
| Fiona Chalmers | ... | Child in Vic's Class | |
| Margo Croan | ... | Woman at Bus Stop | |
| Jake D'Arcy | ... | Wee Man in Bar | |
| Bill Denniston | ... | Bishop | |
| Ron Donachie | ... | Big Man in Bar | |
| Mel Donald | ... | 1st Man at Bus Stop | |
| James Gibb | ... | MacArthur | |
| Sam Graham | ... | Doctor Knox | |
| Grace Kirby | ... | French Teacher | |
| Phillip J. Maxwell | ... | Wee Mike | |
| Ronnie McCann | ... | Boy on Roof | |
| David McCormack | ... | James | |
| Jenny McCrindle | ... | Carole Adams | |
| Billy McElhaney | ... | Reporter 2 | |
| David McKail | ... | Consultant | |
| Lawrie McNicol | ... | Reporter 1 | |
| John Mitchell | ... | Gibbons | |
| Sandy Neilson | ... | 2nd Man at Bus Stop | |
| Paul Nolan | ... | Robbie | |
| Robert Peterson | ... | MacKrimmond | |
| John Shedden | ... | Dentist (as John Sheddon) | |
| Jay Smith | ... | Photographer | |
| Carey Wilson | ... | Education Officer | |
| Kara Wilson | ... | Registrar McAllister | |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
92 minCountry:
UKLanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorSound Mix:
MonoFilming Locations:
Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UKFAQ
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I'm going to begin by saying, this review might be a little biased, since I knew Mr. Gormley, who was gracious enough to offer his time and expertise to young screenwriters, whenever he recognized talent. When I met him (in 2003), I knew I'd heard his name before, but couldn't place how or when. It was only after that first meeting (at a local screen writing group) that I looked up his name on IMDb and realized he'd written one of my favorite movies of the 1980's.
"The Gospel According to Vic" is how I know this film; though, as you can see from the top of the info page, it's mainly known as "Heavenly Prusuits." It's not a big budget, blockbuster film, but it does contain a lot of heart, honesty, and decency. It's a story of miracles and belief -- what constitutes a miracle? What distinguishes a miracle from a happy accident or coincidence? Can you be a man of science and a true believer at the same time? Can miracles happen to non-believers? And just how comfortable are people with the idea of real miracles happening all around them?
I can't really pin down why I like this film so much, beyond the fact that it contains realistically drawn characters who deal with some basic philosophical questions. It's not a big film... not an action film or a broad comedy. It's the kind of movie you could share with your family and have a discussion about it afterward.
Conti and Mirren are brilliant, and even the minor players (like the Doctor and the Priest) are well-acted and fleshed out. Sometimes it's hard to understand the students' dialogue, if you see the film in its original release version (Mr. Gormley told me they'd actually dubbed the film later for the international version, using actors whose accents weren't as thick).
Well worth the effort, if you can track down a copy...