Frankie Starlight (1995)

Director:

Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Writers:

Ronan O'Leary (writer)
Chet Raymo (novel)

Release Date:

22 November 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Sometimes the brightest star is the one that shines within.

Plot:

This is a story of a man (Walker), suffering from dwarfism, who writes an autobiographical account of his life...

Plot Keywords:

Daughter | Dwarf | Astronomy | Based On Novel | Independent Film

Cast

Corban Walker	...	Frank Bois
Niall Toibin	...	Handy Paige
Owen Roe	...	Senior Customs Officer
Gabriel Byrne	...	Jack Kelly
Anne Parillaud	...	Bernadette
Alan Devine	...	Boy On Beach No. 1
Edward Naessens	...	Boy On Beach No. 2
Laurent Mellet	...	Boy On Beach No. 3
Ulrich Funke	...	German Officer
Guy Verame	...	Interpretor
Christine Keane	...	Mother Of Sick Child
Victoria Begeja	...	Anne Marie Bois
Julian Negulesco	...	Bernadette's Uncle
Jean-Claude Frissung	...	Albert Bois (as Jean Claude Frissung)
Corine Blue	...	Bernadette's Aunt

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

101 min | Germany:100 min

Country:

France | UK | Ireland | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Iceland:L | Spain:13 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

Bórd Scannán na hÉireann

Movie Connections:

Features A Place in the Sun (1951)

Blown away by performances of first-time actors

Saw this film on TV last night, and was blown away by the performances of Alan Pentony and Corban Walker, as the child and adult Frankie. When I read the credits and saw an Acting Coach listed for them, I guessed they were first-time actors. This was confirmed by the Showcase movie host after the film, and makes their achievements even more impressive. Kudos to director Michael Lindsay-Hogg!

Gabriel Byrne was also wonderful - charming and tender - the farewell scene in the park was heartbreaking in its understated simplicity. I'm not a big fan of Anne Parillaud - I saw her in "La Femme Nikita" and an amusing American vampire/cop comedy whose title I can't recall - and the charm of that doe-eyed silent gaze wears off after you've seen it a few times. Still, she conveys the mysterious allure necessary for this role, and it's easy to see why these men fall for her.

Overall, "Frankie Starlight" is a lovely movie, and it's a shame it didn't do better at the box office. Anyone who loves the music of an Irish accent, as I do, will be charmed by that, even if nothing else in this beautiful story (which has a happy ending, by the way!) catches your fancy. Plus, the score under the closing credits was a gorgeous piano and cello combination which kept the mood to the end.