The Van *** (1996, Colm Meaney, Donal O’Kelly, Ger Ryan) – Classic Movie Review 9663

Director Stephen Frears follows up The Snapper (1993) with his lesser but still enjoyable 1996 film The Van, based on Roddy Doyle’s novel The Van, the third in his Barrytown Trilogy. The film stars Colm Meaney and Donal O’Kelly.

The first movie of the trilogy, The Commitments (1991) is directed by Alan Parker and the other two by Frears.

‘Bimbo’ Reeves (Donal O’Kelly) gets laid off from his job as a baker in Barrytown, in Dublin, and buys a van to sell fish and chips with his best mate, Larry (Colm Meaney).

It is slightly inconsequential and unresolved, seeming more of a short story this time. But it has strong characters, an amiable mood, a good script (by Roddy Doyle) and expert performances.

After the success of The Snapper (1993) at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival, The Van was entered into the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.

The cast are Colm Meaney as Larry, Donal O’Kelly as Brendan ‘Bimbo’ Reeves, Ger Ryan as his wife Maggie, Caroline Rothwell as Mary, Neilí Conroy as Diane, Rúaidhrí Conroy as Kevin, Brendan O’Carroll as Weslie, Stuart Dunne as Sam, Jack Lynch as Cancer, Laurie Morton as Maggie’s mum, Marie Mullen as Vera and Jon Kenny as Gerry McCarthy.

The Van was cut by about five minutes after the Cannes Film Festival for its cinema release, making it move along faster and livelier.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9663

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