When Brendan Met Trudy (2000)

Director:

Kieron J. Walsh

Writer:

Roddy Doyle (writer)

Release Date:

14 December 2000 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

His heart wasn't all she stole . . .

Plot:

A teacher meets a woman who turns out to be a thief and they introduce each other to new things. |

Plot Keywords:

Irish | Ireland | Character Name In Title

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Peter McDonald	...	Brendan
Flora Montgomery	...	Trudy
Marie Mullen	...	Mother
Pauline McLynn	...	Nuala
Don Wycherley	...	Niall
Maynard Eziashi	...	Edgar
Eileen Walsh	...	Siobhan
Barry Cassin	...	Headmaster
Niall O'Brien	...	Judge
Rynagh O'Grady	...	Lynn
Ali White	...	Mary
Julie Hale	...	Female Chorister
Jack Lynch	...	Conductor
Dr. Stewart	...	Himself
Robert O'Neill	...	Dylan

Also Known As:

Stolen Nights (International: English title) (working title)

Runtime:

Australia:94 min | Canada:95 min | Germany:95 min

Country:

UK | Ireland

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | France:U | Germany:6 | South Korea:18 | Spain:7 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

Collins Avenue

Trivia:

The school scenes were filmed in Blackrock College, Dublin, Kieron J. Walsh's old school. Walsh was not permitted to use the actual school crest in the film, so the dove and lion were flipped in their positions and the real motto, "Fides et robur" (Faith and Strength), was replaced by "C'era una volta il Ociente" (Once Upon a Time In The West).

Movie Connections:

Features C'era una volta il West (1968)

Soundtrack:

Boisterous Sleighride

Romantic comedy with an Irish flair

The title has a romantic comedy resonance (`When Harry Met Sally') and, true, this is a romantic comedy, but it's different – Irish, in fact. It has an edgy character that seems to say it's just that little bit more dangerous to laugh here. The opening scene is of a man in pouring rain lying face down in a Dublin gutter and a voice over saying `it all started six months ago'. Brendan (Peter McDonald), history and English schoolteacher and film buff, best described as afraid of life, meets Trudy (Fiona Montgomery), blonde, bouncing, full of life, and Brendan is swept along. Trudy, however, has a secret…at first Brendan thinks she might be the Rathmines castrator, but she turns out to be a professional thief. Naturally Brendan gets involved, and the climactic caper is an attempt to steal computers from Brendan's school, which Brendan justifies on luddite grounds - the kids need to learn how to think without machines – a chalk is the only technology a good teacher needs, says Brendan.

Despite the rain, this film, written by Roddy Doyle and directed by first-time director Kieron Walsh, is really a very sunny piece. As Brendan becomes more and more distracted, his elderly headmaster summons him in for a talk, only to tell him not to worry about the complaints. The spirit of rebellion infects Brendan's mother, who starts to use words you don't expect Irish mothers to use. Brendan's sister and husband (`middle class and proud of it') turn out to be a bit kinky as well.

Peter McDonald (a younger Jeremy Irons) is perfect as the po-faced Brendan, and Fiona Montgomery manages to carry off a rather unlikely character with great panache. The minor roles are filled with good performances also and the whole cast blend in beautifully. Thank goodness the producers didn't try (or couldn't afford) to cast big names.

There are all sorts of references to Hollywood classics and non-film buffs will be driven mad by their film friends digging them in the ribs with an excited `oh that's from `Sunset Boulevard', or `African Queen' ` or wherever. The film buffery is sent up too, with unexpected twists been given to some great scenes of the past (have you ever wondered for instance what happened at the end of `Singing in the Rain' after Gene Kelly throws his feet in the air?). It's all good fun on its own terms and the `what happened to whoever' sequence at the end is one of the funniest of its kind.