Dawn Bradfield Movies
- 2002
Silent Grace, the debut feature from director Maeve Murphy, is based on actual events. In the early 1980s, a new inmate (Cathleen Bradley) is thrown into prison with a group of female IRA insurgents led by Orla Brady). Although the newcomer has been put there to destabalize the group, they convert her and begin the "dirty" protests, which involves the inmates refusing to clean themselves. Silent Grace was screened at the Hamptons Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Orla Brady, Cathleen Bradley, (more)
Irish director Pat O'Connor helmed this adaptation of Brian Friel's 1990 play which won three Tony awards in addition to UK Olivier and Evening Standard awards. Friel's portrait of five Irish sisters takes place in 1936 on a Donegal farm. The unmarried Mundy sisters are barely surviving. Middle-aged schoolteacher Kate (Meryl Streep) is the eldest, overseeing pretty Christina (Catherine McCormack), lively Maggie (Kathy Burke, re-creating her Tony award-winning role), reliable Agnes (Brid Brennan), and Rose (Sophie Thompson), who has a secret affair with a married man. Christina is the mother of eight-year-old Michael (Darrell Johnston), beneficiary of much attention from his four aunts. The story of a turning-point summer is told in retrospect by the adult Michael and begins when the sisters welcome their older brother Jack (Michael Gambon) as he returns home from missionary work in Africa. Michael's father Gerry Evans (Rhys Ifans) makes an unexpected arrival, winning back both Michael and mom before joining the International Brigade to fight Franco in Spain. Kate loses her teaching position, and the sister's income from their handwoven clothing is threatened by the announced opening of a woolens factory. Shown at 1998 fests (Venice, Toronto). ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meryl Streep, Michael Gambon, (more)
