The Snapper **** (1993, Colm Meaney, Tina Kellegher, Ruth McCabe) Classic Movie Review 9662

A close-knit Dublin family adjusts to the news that the eldest daughter, 20-year old Sharon Curley, is pregnant but will not name the father, in director Stephen Frears’s 1993 BBC Screen Two film The Snapper.

The Snapper is a warm and amusing adaptation of the second novel in Roddy Doyle’s Barrytown Trilogy (flanked by The Commitments, filmed by Alan Parker in 1991, and The Van, filmed by Stephen Frears in 1996). Roddy Doyle writes the screenplay based on his own novel.

Colm Meaney and Tina Kellegher are funny and touching as father and daughter Dessie Curley and Sharon Curley in a film full of earthy humour and insight.

The family, originally called Rabbitte, is here changed to Curley since 20th Century Fox owned the rights to the name with its film The Commitments, in which Colm Meaney played the father, Mr Rabbitte.

The Snapper was originally made for TV but given a deserved British cinema release after its TV premiere, as well as a US theatrical release through Miramax, thanks to a euphoric reception at the Cannes Film Festival.

Also in the cast are Ruth McCabe as Kay Curley, Eanna MacLiam as Craig Curley, Peter Rowen as Sonny Curley, Joanne Gerrard as Lisa Curley, Colm O’Byrne as Darren Curley and Ciara Duffy as Kimberley Curley, Pat Laffan as George Burgess and Brendan Gleeson as Lester.

The Snapper is directed by Stephen Frears, runs 90 minutes, is made by BBC, is released by Screen Two (UK) and Miramax (1993) (US), is written by Roddy Doyle, based on his own novel, is shot by Oliver Stapleton, is produced by Mark Shivas (executive producer) and Lynda Myles, and scored by Stanley Myers.

Ah, the great days of BBC Screen Two! It aired on 3 December 1993 on BBC2 as Season 9 Episode 10.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9662

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