Titanic Town (1998)

A Belfast, Northern Ireland housewife takes up the peace cause, which causes her family trouble with I.R.A. sympathizers.

Director:

Roger Michell

Writers:

Mary Costello (novel), Anne Devlin (screenplay)

Stars:

Julie Walters, Ciarán Hinds, Nuala O'Neill

4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julie Walters	...	Bernie McPhelimy
Ciarán Hinds	...	Aidan McPhelimy
Nuala O'Neill	...	Annie McPhelimy
James Loughran	...	Thomas McPhelimy
Barry Loughran	...	Brendan McPhelimy
Elizabeth Donaghy	...	Sinead McPhelimy
Ciarán McMenamin	...	Dino / Owen
Jaz Pollock	...	Patsy French
Caolan Byrne	...	Niall French
Aingeal Grehan	...	Deirdre
Oliver Ford Davies	...	Whittington
Nicholas Woodeson	...	Immonger (as Nick Woodeson)
Des McAleer	...	Finnbar
B.J. Hogg	...	Chair
Doreen Hepburn	...	Nora

Storyline

Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1972, the politically naïve Bernie McPhelimy (Dame Julie Walters) is trying to bring up a normal family in less than normal surroundings. Her best friend is accidentally shot and killed by the I.R.A., and her neighbors are constantly raided by the army. In this climate of fear and confusion, she dares to stand up and condemn the killings. Criticizing both factions equally, her public call for a ceasefire is interpreted by many as an attack against the I.R.A., and as her fledgling peace movement takes momentum, she and her family are placed in the frontline.

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Plot Keywords:

attempted suicide | best friend | housewife | vomiting | council estate | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Back Down the River
Written and Performed by John Martyn
Published by Warlock Music Ltd.
Recording courtesy of Island Records Ltd.

User Reviews

Can you empathize with a lady trying to do the right thing in Belfast?

True story of one Bernie McPhillimy, a determined lady who tries to negotiate an agreement between the IRA and the Brits in 1972, during the height of the fighting. She is tired of innocent children being killed and comes up with an idea of a 'daytime truce' so the children can safely get to school and back. From he modest petition drive she is thrust quickly into the limelight as a leader of the 'peace movement.' Although she is not pro-British, she is given the tag of 'anti-IRA' by the nieghbours and we see the wrath that label brings upon her and her family. Despite all the setbacks and threats, her dogged determination is inspiring and at times even fun to watch. This movie does a great job of putting you right in the thick of things in Belfast. Unlike other movies based on the troubles in Ireland which usually looks at it from an IRA standpoint, this one focuses on how the regular blokes are affected and what their daily lives are like. Not entirely uplifting nor a complete bummer, it treads keenly between an over the top drama and made for tv drama. Still, I like it.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 1999 (UK)

Also Known As:

Belfast Bullets

Filming Locations:

Shortmead Drive, Cheshunt, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$34,785, 4 September 2000

Gross USA:

$65,793

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$65,793

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arts Council Of Northern Ireland's Lottery Fund, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), British Screen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color