Period drama starring Meryl Streep. Ireland, 1936: the five Mundy sisters live quietly in the Donegal countryside with the son of youngest sister Christina and absent husband, Gerry, a travelling salesman. Brother Jack returns - weakened by his years as a missionary in Africa - as does Gerry, vowing to fight in the Spanish Civil War. As Lughnasa, the Celtic festival of light, approaches, tensions between the sisters rise, and it seems their quiet life will never be the same.
Director Pat O'Connor, who made the enjoyably romantic Irish drama Circle of Friends, stumbles a little with this rather meandering adaptation of Brian Friel's acclaimed play about five unmarried sisters living in rural Ireland in the 1930s. In depicting the changes that come into the sisters' lives, the film remains faithful to the play. However, O'Connor spends too much time dwelling on the beautiful Irish countryside for the pace ever to move above a slow crawl. That said, the cast members, led by Meryl Streep, all perform superbly, and fans of the Emerald Isle will be enchanted by the picture-book presentation of the country.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Kate Mundy | Meryl Streep |
| Father Jack Mundy | Michael Gambon |
| Christina Mundy | Catherine McCormack |
| Maggie Mundy | Kathy Burke |
| Rose Mundy | Sophie Thompson |
| Agnes Mundy | Brid Brennan |
| Gerry Evans | Rhys Ifans |
| Michael Mundy | Darrell Johnston |
| Danny Bradley | Lorcan Cranitch |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Pat O'Connor |
