Frankie Starlight (1995)

This is a story of a man (Walker), suffering from dwarfism, who writes an autobiographical account of his life. In flashbacks, we see how he was conceived to a woman (Parillaud) at the end ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Writers:

Ronan O'Leary, Chet Raymo (novel),

Stars:

Corban Walker, Gabriel Byrne, Anne Parillaud

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

This is a story of a man (Walker), suffering from dwarfism, who writes an autobiographical account of his life. In flashbacks, we see how he was conceived to a woman (Parillaud) at the end of WWII as she attempts to smuggle herself to America on a troop ship. Caught, she is put ashore back in her homeland of Ireland where she struggles to bring up her dwarfed child. Then comes an ongoing affair with a man (Byrne) who becomes a surrogate father to the boy, teaching him about the stars and planets... and calling him "Frankie Starlight." After that affair she meets with a man (Dillon) who takes her and the boy to America, but they are misfits in the prairie lands of the West and soon return home to Ireland where the boy grows to manhood as a writer.

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Plot Keywords:

boy | ireland | flashback | troop ship | writer | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes the brightest star is the one that shines within.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Fine Line

Country:

France UK Ireland USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

A csillagok szerelmese

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Gross:

$78,168 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bórd Scannán na hÉireann, Canal+, Channel Four Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Irish Cinema: Ourselves Alone? (1995)

User Reviews

I Wish More People Could See This

This is one of the great "unknowns" in the movie world: a great film seen by very few people. I'm still waiting for the DVD but not holding my breath. Thankfully, my VHS is still good. But like anything good, we'd like to share this with others and most people have never heard of this movie.

For those sensitive souls who enjoy a fascinating portrait of an unusual person or persons that is both sad and uplifting, this is your ticket. It has both, in spades.....a haunting film you can't forget. It's a tragic tale yet has a happy ending of sorts and leaves you feeling satisfied.

What it is, and I can't remember if it is based on real-life situation, is the story of a woman who has a dwarf for a son and what happens to the two of them, beginning in France, moving to Ireland, over to the United States and then back to Ireland.

Along the way, the mother, played so sadly by French actress Anne Parillaud (the original La Femme Nikita), gets involved with two men: Gabriel Byrne and Matt Dillon. All three of these adults are really interesting, likable people, but nothing like the dwarf, who is played magnificently by two actors. Alan Pentony plays "Frankie" has a child and a more lovable kid would be hard to find. Corbin Walker does a great job of playing the adult "Frankie." Trust me: you will not forget either of them.

Walker narrates the film, telling it mostly in flashback style, from his best-selling book. In addition to his mom and the two father-figures in his life, is a short story of Frankie's love affair with astronomy and the stars, hence "Frankie Starlight."

The only profane character in the movie is the book publisher who has two short scenes. That, and two quick sex scenes, give it the "R" rating. Otherwise, this is wonderful old-fashioned storytelling, the kind that makes you really care about the characters.