Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The Van (1996)
The Van
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Photos (see all 15 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   1,865 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 17% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Stephen Frears
Writers:
Roddy Doyle (novel)
Roddy Doyle (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Van on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 May 1997 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama more
Tagline:
A large portion of life... more
Plot:
The third installment of Irish author Roddy Doyle's 'Barrytown Trilogy' depicts the hilarious yet poignant adventures of Bimbo... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Scores That Pop from Composers of Pop
 (From IFC. 7 April 2009, 9:02 AM, PDT)

Van Gogh Doc to Film in Portlaoise
 (From IFTN. 2 April 2009, 7:45 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Charming concept in search of real characters more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Colm Meaney ... Larry
Donal O'Kelly ... Bimbo
Ger Ryan ... Maggie
Caroline Rothwell ... Mary
Neilí Conroy ... Diane
Rúaidhrí Conroy ... Kevin
Brendan O'Carroll ... Weslie
Stuart Dunne ... Sam
Jack Lynch ... Cancer
Laurie Morton ... Maggie's Mum
Marie Mullen ... Vera
Jon Kenny ... Gerry McCarthy
Moses Rowen ... Glenn
Linda McGovern ... Jessica
Eoin Chaney ... Wayne
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong language.
Runtime:
100 min
Country:
UK | Ireland
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
This is the third story in Roddy Doyle's "Barrytown Trilogy", following the adventures of the Rabbitte family. However, as 20th Century Fox owned the film rights to the Rabbitte name (from The Commitments), the characters had to be re-named in the subsequent film adaptations (The Snapper, The Van). more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: The movie is set during World Cup 1990, and on at least two occasions, the radio can be heard promoting 98FM. This station did not use this branding until the mid 1990s; it was called Classic Hits at the time. more
Quotes:
Bimbo: Got a bit of bad news today. Knocked me back a bit. I was let go.
Larry: What?
Bimbo: Made redundant.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofs Ghostbusters II (1989) more
Soundtrack:
Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
1 out of 8 people found the following comment useful:-
Charming concept in search of real characters, 31 March 2003
Author: esbarnard from United States

The characters drink, bicker, whine, drink more, try to get their act together, bicker, whine, drink, whine...

The writers could have used someone to ask them some tough questions. Why are these characters friends? What are you trying to say about these people? If the answer is "for some people, hard work will never pay off," then pray tell us, why not? Does it have something to do with being Irish? If so, what? If not, then what? The friendship between the protagonists is not adequately developed, and when the friendship hits rough times it is hard to care. They didn't seem to like each other very much to begin with. I began not to like them. I didn't see them as tormented, confused or angry, just disagreeable.

Although I don't demand that all films about the Irish have a gentle Bill Forsyth touch, a little of his character development and motivation would have helped here. The concept is charming, why are the characters so harsh and helpless?

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Van (1996)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
John Kenny / Gerry McCarthy IrishLumog
Swerving to intentionally run over a dog? billkwando
Caroline Rothwell doug-armstrong
Anyone got DVD release info? mojolobo
Missing Scenes? youreaskippy
soundtrack listing teckman02-1
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Snapper 101 Reykjavík The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne Breakfast on Pluto Big Fish
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.