Dancing at Lughnasa ***½ (1998, Meryl Streep, Michael Gambon, Catherine McCormack, Kathy Burke, Sophie Thompson, Brid Brennan, Rhys Ifans) – Classic Movie Review 9823

Director Pat O’Connor’s 1998 romantic comedy drama Dancing at Lughnasa tells the ripe tale of prim schoolmarm Kate Mundy (Meryl Streep) and her four unmarried sisters (Catherine McCormack, Kathy Burke, Sophie Thompson, Brid Brennan) in 1930s rural Donegal.

Streep gets to show her vocal virtuosity and acting pyrotechnics yet again, this time in Irish vein, in this sterling film of Brian Friel’s stage play. Their lives are disrupted when their brother, Father Jack Mundy (Michael Gambon), returns from work in Africa befuddled by age and drink.

Dancing at Lughnasa (1998) is a rare, entertaining movie that takes time out for developing rich characters. As the laughs and tears pile high, Streep is spot on and Gambon is amusingly daft. All the observations and acting are special.

Frank McGuinness writes the screenplay based on Brian Friel’s stage play.

It is narrated by Gerard McSorley.

Also in the cast are Rhys Ifans, Darrell Johnston, Lorcan Cranitch, Peter Gowan, Dawn Bradfield, Marie Mullen, John Kavanagh and Kate O’Toole.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9823

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