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 camera pans on to the accordionist it shows the accordionist playing a Saltarelle accordion which were only produced from 1984 onwards.

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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

Thanks to the residents of Whelen and O'Rahilly houses.

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Connections

Referenced in Evelyn: Behind the Scenes (2003)

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Soundtracks

"The Parting Glass"
(Traditional)
Performed by Pierce Brosnan

User Reviews

Evelyn, At the Heart of the Matter ****

Something totally different for actor Pierce Brosnan, and he makes the best of it in a terrific performance.

Desmond Doyle (Brosnan) is a poor Irish father, married with 3 children. His wife deserts him and as he has no finances, the state takes his loving children away and places the boys in one school and his daughter, Evelyn, in a convent.

His lovely daughter meets up with one kind nun but one so vicious played by a lady whose last name is Irvine. I haven't seen such cruelty displayed by a nun since Gladys Cooper in "The Song of Bernadette."

Brosnan, a house painter and part-time singer, shows tremendous depth in this role of a hard-drinking, heavy smoking individual whose love for his children transcends all.

He engages two attorneys played by Stephen Rea and Aidan Quinn to help him. In turn, they pursue another retired attorney, the late Alan Bates, who provides comic relief with his performance.

The picture focuses on the attempts of the attorneys to change Irish law that would allow one parent in such a situation to decide what's right for his child.

Irish eyes are certainly smiling on Doyle, he immediately touches the hearts of the people in his plain, sympathetic style. Heart-wrenching and a joy to view. Don't miss it.