Evelyn (2002)

1953. Desmond Doyle is devastated when his wife abandons their family on the day after Christmas. His unemployment and the fact that there is no woman in the house to care for the children,... See full summary »

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writer:

Paul Pender

Stars:

Sophie Vavasseur, Pierce Brosnan, Julianna Margulies

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophie Vavasseur	...	Evelyn Doyle
Niall Beagan	...	Dermot Doyle
Hugh McDonagh	...	Maurice Doyle (as Hugh Macdonagh)
Pierce Brosnan	...	Desmond Doyle
Mairead Devlin	...	Charlotte Doyle
Frank Kelly	...	Henry Doyle
Claire Mullan	...	Mrs. Daisley
Alvaro Lucchesi	...	Inspector Logan
Garrett Keogh	...	District Judge
Daithi O'Suilleabhain	...	Brother Eustace (as Daithi O'Suillebhain)
Andrea Irvine	...	Sister Brigid
Marian Quinn	...	Sister Theresa
Karen Ardiff	...	Sister Felicity
Julianna Margulies	...	Bernadette Beattie
Bosco Hogan	...	Father O'Malley

Storyline

1953. Desmond Doyle is devastated when his wife abandons their family on the day after Christmas. His unemployment and the fact that there is no woman in the house to care for the children, Evelyn, Dermot and Maurice, make it clear to the authorities that his is an untenable situation. The Irish courts put the Doyle children into Church-run orphanages. Although a sympathetic judge assures Desmond that he'll get his children back after he gets a job, he learns there's another barrier. During that time, Evelyn suffers abuse while Desmond goes to court to get his children back. A barmaid, her brother, her suitor, and a tippling footballer become Desmond's team.

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Plot Keywords:

children | court | irish | unemployment | judge | 

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Taglines:

The story of a father's love that changed a nation

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic material and language

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

Germany Ireland USA UK Netherlands

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 2003 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Ein Vater kämpft um seine Kinder

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$72,704 (Australia) (14 May 2004)

Gross:

$230,830 (Australia) (14 May 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Look International, Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG, Irish DreamTime

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 95 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Evelyn's mother is said to have gone to Australia with her lover, but in reality, she went to England and ended up raising another family there. The real Evelyn Doyle eventually saw her mother on more than one occasion, but they never reconciled.

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Goofs

When the man from SPCC was speaking with Doyle, a woman behind Doyle hung the same pair of pants on the line twice.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dermot Doyle: Evelyn, did Jesus have a big sister?
Evelyn Doyle: No Dermot, he wasn't as lucky as you.

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Crazy Credits

Slippery Sam is the greyhound who wins the race.

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Connections

Referenced in Evelyn: The Story Behind the Story (2003)

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Soundtracks

"The Holly and the Ivy Girl"
(Traditional)
Performed by The Cór Na Nog Rté Choir

User Reviews

An emotional mess..not the movie, ME!

Possibly you're a cynic and think the blarney is laid on too abundantly in this movie. Or you might be calling it "O'Kramer vs. O'Kramer" and this isn't too sappy and predictable to be taken seriously. Well, guess what, it is, and I loved every minute.

Pierce Brosnan, who I used to consider a cardboard cut-out of an actor, plays Desmond Doyle. He's fantastic as a father whose daughter and two sons are removed from their home by the government after their Mother ( in this case, the term can be used in the biological sense only) abandons the family. This being Ireland in the 1950s, there was a law that stated the government can intervene when one parent is found to be insufficient. Desmond has to quit drinking, deal with the death of his father, find a lawyer and rarely see his kids.

Its all okay at the end, and I have to mention that I hope the children's Mother and a certain Sister Bridget have the thankless job of eating ---- in hell for all eternity.

Worth mentioning from the cast is Alan Bates, a hard-drinking consultant to Doyle's case, and his wishes to hear (or not hear) a 'however' from the judges were hilarious.

I had a small problem with the fact that the Mother was not on trial, literally, because it was her abandonment of her family that led to them being separated.

Anyway, its a terrific movie. 8/10.