Cal (1984 film)

Cal
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Pat O'Connor
Produced by	Terence A. Clegg; David Puttnam;
Screenplay by	Bernard MacLaverty
Based on	Cal; by Bernard MacLaverty
Starring	John Lynch; Helen Mirren;
Music by	Mark Knopfler
Cinematography	Jerzy Zielinski
Edited by	Michael Bradsell
Production; company	Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date	24 August 1984 (USA); 5 October 1984 (Ireland);
Running time	102 minutes
Country	Ireland
Language	English

Cal is a 1984 Irish drama film directed by Pat O'Connor and starring John Lynch and Helen Mirren. Based on the novella Cal written by Bernard MacLaverty who also wrote the script, the film was entered into the 1984 Cannes Film Festival, where Mirren won the award for Best Actress.[1]

Plot

Cal (John Lynch) is a young member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) in 1970s Northern Ireland. He acts as a driver on a nighttime murder of a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), which takes place at the victim's home in view of his father, who is also shot.

One year later, Cal learns that a librarian, Marcella (Helen Mirren), to whom he is attracted, is a Catholic and the widow of the victim. Cal wants to leave the IRA, but is pressured to remain. He and his father live in the city, where they feel threatened by Orange Order marches and are harassed by loyalist gangs. Cal is offered work in Marcella's Protestant husband's family farm, where she lives. Initially he works as a hand and, after he and his father are burned out, moves to a semi-derelict cottage on the farm, without telling the IRA his new location.

Marcella is unhappy, feeling suffocated by her domineering mother-in-law and sick father-in-law. Marcella confesses that her marriage was not a happy one. Over time, Cal and Marcella begin a love affair—with Marcella unaware of Cal's role in her husband's death.

While Christmas shopping for Marcella and her child, he is abducted by the IRA, who are unwilling for him to leave them. The car is stopped at a British Army checkpoint and tries to get away. In the ensuing crash, Cal escapes and makes his way to Marcella's home, where he declares his love for her and hints at his involvement in her husband's murder. He has been pursued to the house by the RUC and is arrested and taken away.

Cast

Helen Mirren as Marcella
John Lynch as Cal
Donal McCann as Shamie
Ray McAnally as Cyril Dunlop
John Kavanagh as Skeffington
Stevan Rimkus as Crilly
Catherine Gibson as Mrs Morton
Louis Rolston as Dermot Ryan
Tom Hickey as Preacher
Gerard Mannix Flynn as Arty
Seamus Forde as Mr Morton
Edward Byrne as Skeffington Sr
J. J. Murphy as Man in Library
Audrey Johnson as Luc
Brian Munn as Robert Morton

Reception

As of 16 March 2011, the aggregate review website Rotten Tomatoes has recorded 91% positive response based on 11 reviews.[2]

Goldcrest Films invested £396,000 in the film and received £278,000 in return. They lost £118,000.[3]

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gollark: Oh, right, they're all Olivia.

gollark: That's subject to the whole perfect introspection paradox.

gollark: Guess what? When they'll be available?

gollark: Oh, 95% of your atoms contain them.

References

"Cal". Retrieved 13 November 2011.
Cal, Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed 22 March 2010.
Eberts, Jake; Illott, Terry (1990). My indecision is final. Faber and Faber. p. 656.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[festival-1] "Cal". Retrieved 13 November 2011.

[2] Cal, Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed 22 March 2010.

[3] Eberts, Jake; Illott, Terry (1990). My indecision is final. Faber and Faber. p. 656.