Red Roses and Petrol (2003)

A dysfunctional Irish family gathers after the death of their patriarch.

Director:

Tamar Simon Hoffs

Writers:

Tamar Simon Hoffs (story), Joseph O'Connor (play)

Stars:

Malcolm McDowell, Olivia Tracey, Heather Juergensen

Cast

Credited cast:
Malcolm McDowell	...	Enda Doyle
Olivia Tracey	...	Moya Doyle
Heather Juergensen	...	Medbh Doyle
Max Beesley	...	Johnny Doyle
Greg Ellis	...	Tom Ivres
Susan Lynch	...	Catherine Doyle
Catherine Farrell	...	Helen
Sean Lawlor	...	Prof. Thompson
Robert Easton	...	Old Geezer
Aubrey Morris	...	Father Morton
Arie Verveen	...	Doc
Timothy V. Murphy	...	Eamonn
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Zola Glassman	...	Young Medbh
Kathryn Joosten	...	Nurse
Lou Mulford	...	Neighbor Woman

Storyline

Amidst a haze of cigarette smoke and uneaten food, the family of Enda Doyle gathers in Dublin for his wake. A university librarian, poet and rascal, he has left behind a trail of unresolved issues, a dysfunctional family, and a disturbing mystery. Enda's dazed widow, Moya, anxiously prepares for the next day's funeral with her still stuck-at-home, twenty-something daughter Medbh lending a loving hand. Moya's desperation to keep her family together and Medbh's sharp tongue provide the backdrop for the arrival of headstrong older sister Catherine from New York with her handsome but awkward boyfriend Tom in tow. They doubt that London-based Johnny, the angry black sheep brother of the family, will even appear at all. Sorting through boxes of Enda's books, the women discover a cache of self-recorded video diaries that might shed light on who Enda Doyle really was and some of the secrets that he was never able to share with them. At the funeral, the daughters see a distraught young woman ...

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Plot Keywords:

funeral | secret | irish | family gathering | videotape | 

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Taglines:

Death brings families closer together...or does it?

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including some sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 2003 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$350,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Abú Media, Rock 'n Read Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only American member of the Irish/English cast, Heather Juergensen, perfected her Irish accent in the high school class of Frank McCourt.

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Connections

Featured in O Lucky Malcolm! (2006)

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Soundtracks

Drunken Lullabies
Performed by Flogging Molly

User Reviews

Surprised this is not rated much higher

I love dysfunctional family dramas, but only when they're done well. Many are not, simply because I don't buy the fact that it's a real family and they never seem to have that natural family connection and it just never sells me. Maybe it's because I'm European myself, and can relate to this kinda family more, but I bought this hook, line and sinker. The acting was amazing, and the banter between siblings was so spot on, I was really impressed. It felt like the director really put care and love into this project. It's not a mind blowing piece of cinema, but it's definitely a heartfelt and actually pretty fun movie. It's definitely worth a watch, oh and it has a great soundtrack! Flogging Molly FTW!