The Van (1996)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers:

Roddy Doyle (novel)
Roddy Doyle (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 May 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A large portion of life...

Plot:

The third installment of Irish author Roddy Doyle's 'Barrytown Trilogy' depicts the hilarious yet poignant adventures of Bimbo...

Plot Keywords:

Fish | Business | Van | Irish | Friendship

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Colm Meaney	...	Larry
Donal O'Kelly	...	Bimbo
Ger Ryan	...	Maggie
Caroline Rothwell	...	Mary
Neilí Conroy	...	Diane
Rúaidhrí Conroy	...	Kevin
Brendan O'Carroll	...	Weslie
Stuart Dunne	...	Sam
Jack Lynch	...	Cancer
Laurie Morton	...	Maggie's Mum
Marie Mullen	...	Vera
Jon Kenny	...	Gerry McCarthy
Moses Rowen	...	Glenn
Linda McGovern	...	Jessica
Eoin Chaney	...	Wayne

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK | Ireland

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-7 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Germany:6 (bw) | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:7 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Beacon Communications

Trivia:

This is the third story in Roddy Doyle's "Barrytown Trilogy", following the adventures of the Rabbitte family. However, as 20th Century Fox owned the film rights to the Rabbitte name (from The Commitments), the characters had to be re-named in the subsequent film adaptations (The Snapper, The Van).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Larry sings the lyrics to 'Living Next Door To Alice' in a scene in the film. However after singing he adds the phrase 'Alice? Who the fuck is Alice?', referring to the popular re-release version featuring comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown. However this version wasn't released until 1995, with the film being set in 1989.

Quotes:

Bimbo: Got a bit of bad news today. Knocked me back a bit. I was let go.
Larry: What?
Bimbo: Made redundant.

Movie Connections:

References Red River (1948)

Soundtrack:

I'm in the Mood for Dancing

They have red hair and they like a drink !

Although I must say at the outset that I enjoyed The Van and would watch it again, it is strangely uninspiring when compared to other films in its genre. Indeed, this genre of all-too-real, Irish grit and spit, may, in The Van be seeing a backlash or a counterpunch. The cliche of happy but poor Oirish Paddies (with red hair and they'll take a pint of Guinness) is not so much indulged in this time but is rather exposed and exploited. Larry and his friends find themselves with a grimy filthy chip van and a chance for grimy filthy happiness in a grimy filthy world.

How a shiny happy person would stomach this film I don't know. It is by turns delightful and soul-eroding. Unlike the Commitments there are no real moments of glory (Packy Bonner saving that penalty being the exception). Like the Commitments, we are left with a brave sense of optimism rather than a happy ending.

I'd like an Irish perspective on this film. It won't change the world. It won't change the way we view Ireland. The Irish are still portrayed as "the blacks of Europe". It may stop me from buying fish and chips from a van though.