6.5/10
816
13 user 6 critic

Frankie Starlight (1995)

R | | Drama, Romance, War | 15 September 1995 (Ireland)
Frankie Starlight Poster
A writer with dwarfism shares the story of his unconventional, though not altogether bad, upbringing as his mother struggled to raise him in the mid 20th century, with the help of a surrogate father.

Director:

Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Writers:

Ronan O'Leary, Chet Raymo (novel) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Matt Dillon, Anne Parillaud, Gabriel Byrne | See full cast & crew »
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Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Corban Walker ... Frank Bois
Niall Toibin ... Handy Paige
Owen Roe ... Senior Customs Officer
Gabriel Byrne ... Jack Kelly
Anne Parillaud ... Bernadette
Alan Devine Alan Devine ... Boy On Beach No. 1
Edward Naessens Edward Naessens ... Boy On Beach No. 2
Laurent Mellet Laurent Mellet ... Boy On Beach No. 3
Ulrich Funke Ulrich Funke ... German Officer
Guy Verame Guy Verame ... Interpretor
Christine Keane Christine Keane ... Mother Of Sick Child
Victoria Begeja Victoria Begeja ... Anne Marie Bois
Julian Negulesco Julian Negulesco ... Bernadette's Uncle
Jean-Claude Frissung Jean-Claude Frissung ... Albert Bois (as Jean Claude Frissung)
Corine Blue Corine Blue ... Bernadette's Aunt
See full cast »
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Storyline

This is a story of a man (Walker), suffering from dwarfism, who writes an autobiographical account of his life. In flashbacks, we see how he was conceived to a woman (Parillaud) at the end of WWII as she attempts to smuggle herself to America on a troop ship. Caught, she is put ashore back in her homeland of Ireland where she struggles to bring up her dwarfed child. Then comes an ongoing affair with a man (Byrne) who becomes a surrogate father to the boy, teaching him about the stars and planets... and calling him "Frankie Starlight." After that affair she meets with a man (Dillon) who takes her and the boy to America, but they are misfits in the prairie lands of the West and soon return home to Ireland where the boy grows to manhood as a writer. Written by BOB STEBBINS <stebinsbob@aol.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

boy | ireland | writer | flashback | troop ship | See All (105) »

Taglines:

From the Maker of "My Left Foot" See more »

Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexuality | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This is an adaptation of Chet Raymo's novel 'The Dork of Cork'. See more »

Connections

Features Une place au soleil (1951) See more »

Soundtracks

From My Window
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Lyrics by Emilie A. Bernstein
Performed by Belinda B. Pigeon
Produced by Michael Omartian
See more »

User Reviews

 
Beautiful film that moved me in my youth...
13 September 2003 | by ToExist – See all my reviews

This is a beautiful movie that is touching. Anne Parillaud character in this film is an innocent young girl who seems lost throughout the film searching for something, maybe love. This movie was supposed to be about a dwarf named Frankie when in fact it is really about a lost beautiful young woman named Bernadette searching for something.

This movie deserves an 8 but I give it a 10 out of 10 because I just adore Anne Parillaud and most of her work. There are some things in this world that touch you almost inexplicably and this film is one of them. Today it seems like there are fewer examples of this. Maybe this would explain why most are numb and apathetic.
13 of 14 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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Details

Official Sites:

Fine Line

Country:

Ireland | UK | France | USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1995 (Ireland) See more »

Also Known As:

A csillagok szerelmese See more »

Filming Locations:

County Kildare, Ireland See more »
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Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,694, 26 November 1995

Gross USA:

$103,365

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$103,365
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bórd Scannán na hÉireann, Canal+, Channel Four Films See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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