Agnes Browne (1999)

The unexpected death of her husband sends a woman and her seven children, ages 2-14, into emotional turmoil and financial crisis in 1967 Dublin. She is forced to borrow money from a ... See full summary »

Director:

Anjelica Huston

Writers:

Brendan O'Carroll (novel), John Goldsmith (screenplay),

Stars:

Anjelica Huston, Marion O'Dwyer, Niall O'Shea

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anjelica Huston	...	Agnes Browne
Marion O'Dwyer	...	Marion Monks
Niall O'Shea	...	Mark Browne
Ciaran Owens	...	Frankie Browne
Roxanna Nic Liam	...	Cathy Browne (as Roxanna Williams)
Carl Power	...	Simon Browne
Mark Power	...	Dermot Browne
Gareth O'Connor	...	Rory Browne
James Lappin	...	Trevor Browne
Ray Winstone	...	Mr. Billy
Arno Chevrier	...	Pierre
Gerard McSorley	...	Mr. Aherne
Tom Jones	...	Himself
June Rodgers	...	Fat Annie
Jennifer Gibney	...	Winnie the Mackerel

Storyline

The unexpected death of her husband sends a woman and her seven children, ages 2-14, into emotional turmoil and financial crisis in 1967 Dublin. She is forced to borrow money from a ruthless loan shark to make ends meet. She faces her dismal existence by selling fruits and vegetables at an open air market where she spends time with a best friend who gives her encouragement. Wishing to escape her existence, if only for a short time, she dreams of finding enough money to attend an upcoming Tom Jones concert. She realizes her dream by accepting her first date with a French baker. Her kids pool their money so she can buy a new dress. Of course, eventually the family has to face the loan shark, but this is a movie where obstacles are maybe too easily overcome.

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Plot Keywords:

money | loan | dream | loan shark | death | 

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Taglines:

When Agnes Browne's husband died, she discovered something amazing... Herself.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA Ireland

Language:

English French

Release Date:

3 March 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Mammy

Filming Locations:

Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£72,392 (UK) (10 December 1999)

Gross:

$140,426 (USA) (17 March 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hell's Kitchen Films, October Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Brendan O'Carroll, the author of the book on which the film is based, appears throughout the film as the drunk character first at the cemetery he is the man who races into the pub for a pint ahead of the Brown cortège, then he is putting up the Tom Jones posters, then he is on the bridge where Agnes and the Frenchman stop on their date and finally the character who asks who the owner of the fancy car is at the end.

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Goofs

When the group are are coming out of Clery's department store, the physical bus stops in the distance are still from 1990s. Bus stops were green and oval in shape, whereas in the 60s and 70s they were round and black/cream.

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Quotes

Marion Monks: We're here for a good time, not a long time. And having a friend like you is as good as it gets.

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Connections

Followed by Mrs. Brown's Boys (2011)

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Soundtracks

"My Bonnie"
Traditional
Written by H.J. Fuller
Arrangement by Paddy Moloney, Laura Smith
Performed by Laura Smith

User Reviews

Poetry, compared to other recent movies about working-class women in Ireland

This is an excellent picture of the life of working-class women on the housing estates ('projects' to Americans,probably as true now as in the 'sixties, as well as being a very good movie for women actors. The men are cyphers but the women and children are real enough. The colour is almost real (compared to Angela's Ashes), the dialogue believable, the dress and make-up accurate, in fact the design of the whole piece is convincing and satisfying visually and its sentimentality is not so sweet as to stick to back of the teeth. Anjelica Huston is unselfish. I have my doubts about Tom Jones' scenes at the end, but nothing's perfect. I find it growing on me as I look back on it.