An Everlasting Piece (2000)

Colm is a Catholic and George is a poetry-loving Protestant. In Belfast in the 1980s, they could have been enemies, but instead they became business partners. After persuading a mad wig ... See full summary »

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writer:

Barry McEvoy

Stars:

Barry McEvoy, Brían F. O'Byrne, Anna Friel

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barry McEvoy	...	Colm
Brían F. O'Byrne	...	George
Anna Friel	...	Bronagh
Pauline McLynn	...	Gerty
Ruth McCabe	...	Mrs. O'Neill
Laurence Kinlan	...	Mickey
Billy Connolly	...	Scalper
Des McAleer	...	Mr. Black
Colum Convey	...	IRA Man
Ian Cregg	...	Milker
David Pearse	...	Comrade
Seamus Ball	...	Mr. Duggan
Enda Oates	...	Detective
Des Braiden	...	Vicar
George Shane	...	Billy King

Storyline

Colm is a Catholic and George is a poetry-loving Protestant. In Belfast in the 1980s, they could have been enemies, but instead they became business partners. After persuading a mad wig salesman, known as the Scalper, to sell them his leads, the two embark on a series of house calls--always in neighborhoods that are dangerous for one or the other partner. Then they find out they may lose their exclusive wig distributorship to competitors. Through a series of comic twists, the pair are given large orders for wigs by both sides of the Protestant/Catholic conflict. Should they compromise their principles in order to keep their business? Will it destroy their friendship? Could one of their wigs in the hands of the IRA actually put one or both of them in jail or even get them killed?

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Plot Keywords:

scalper | ireland | irish republican army | belfast northern ireland | alopecia | 

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Taglines:

Piece on Earth.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Cameo Productions (select film from menu)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 March 2001 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Pile poil

Filming Locations:

Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,128, 25 December 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$75,078, 14 January 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baltimore Spring Creek Productions, Bayahibe Films Ltd., DreamWorks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producer Jerome O'Connor filed a $10 million lawsuit against DreamWorks for effectively burying the film so as not to offend the British government. DreamWorks head Steven Spielberg was rumored to receive an honor from The Queen but a wide release of the film (which lampoons the UK government's treatment of Northern Ireland) would have scuppered that. Consequently the film was released in just 6 cinemas - and Spielberg got his honor.

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Quotes

Mr. Black: [angry] Look, I told you: I don't know who you've been talking to but he's a fucking liar! You'll find no herpes here!
Colm: [surprised] Herpes?
Mr. Black: That's what you said.
George: No sir.
[points to his head]
George: Hair pieces.
Mr. Black: Oh. I thought you said 'herpes'.

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Connections

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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Soundtracks

Under Pressure (with Queen)
Performed by David Bowie

User Reviews

If you miss the point you won't enjoy the movie

An Everlasting Piece is a funny, witty and at times dark movie based on the escapades of a Protestant and Catholic barber who team up to take over the toupee market of Northern Ireland. If you look for deeper meaning in this movie you will find important moral lessons and some insight into the nature of conflict in general. There are dozens of quotable lines present, Billy Connolly has some real gems.

Having never been to Northern Ireland, I believe this movie has given me some limited insight into 1980's Belfast. Most of the main characters are Catholic-Irish, and the film does seem slightly sympathetic to that side. If you are looking for more information on the atmosphere and troubles in N. Ireland I recommend reading Bad Blood, by Colm Toibin.

The plot is fine 6/10 The humour is great 9/10 The dramatic element is good 7/10 Overall I'd give 7.5/10