Cal [DVD] [1984]

Delivered before the due date, well packaged and sealed, so thank you. The fim was made in the early 1980's and I had not seen it in about 30 years, so decided to purchase a copy of it when I spotted it on DVD at a very reasonable price. It was filmed in my home town of Drogheda, Ireland so a bit of a trip down memory lane spotting the locales. Good acting by a top array of Irish stage actors with the addition of the always reliable Helen Mirren. A worthy addition to my DVD collection.

Excellent film, great early performance by Helen Mirren and faithful to the book. Although an old film, it didn't feel dated.

I remember watching this on channel 4 it was one of their first film four season they launched truly great story line and well acted a very powerful movie

delivery was fine to australia - thanks very much. long time since i watched this movie

Very powerful story about Troubles in Northern Ireland. Very realistic, strong story and good casting. Classic for films about Troubles.

asian release of the movie that hasn't been rated/viewed for quality

I would rather get a french subtittled version than a spanish one because my family cannot understand english. I am ready to buy an other one version of CAL with french language or french subtittle. J'aurais préféré la version sous titrée en français plutôt qu'en espagnol, car jma famille ne comprend pas l'anglais. Je suis prête à acheter une version de CAL en français ou sous-titrée français.

Having loved the music of Mark Knopfler for years, I had never seen the film! Rectified. Insight into the personal conflicts of a young man in Ireland. John Lynch and Helen Mirren, both actors who have gone on in their acting careers.

Is not compatible with all players

"Cal" is an absolute gem of a film that not only showcases the incredible talents of Helen Mirren and John Lynch but also weaves a captivating older woman-younger man dynamic into its gripping romantic drama. Bernard MacLaverty's adaptation of his own novel delivers a five-star cinematic experience that leaves a lasting impression. John Lynch's portrayal of Cal, an out-of-work Northern Irishman caught in the web of the IRA's activities, is nothing short of mesmerizing. His internal struggle and complex emotions are portrayed with authenticity and depth, drawing you into his world from the very beginning. Helen Mirren shines as Marcella, the local librarian whose life has been shattered by the IRA's violence. Her performance is a masterclass in subtlety and nuance, making you feel every ounce of her character's pain, resilience, and the tentative hope she finds in the most unexpected of places. The older woman-younger man dynamic adds a layer of complexity to their relationship, making their connection even more poignant and charged with emotion. The film's narrative, set against the backdrop of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, is a poignant exploration of love, guilt, and redemption. The intertwined stories of Cal and Marcella, with their age-difference romance, are both heart-wrenching and heartwarming, offering a profound meditation on the enduring power of human connection amidst the chaos of conflict. "Cal" is a powerful and emotionally charged film that delves into the complexities of its characters' lives and the enduring impact of political turmoil. It's a testament to the exceptional storytelling and exceptional performances, with the added layer of the older woman-younger man vibe, that leave you deeply moved. This is a five-star movie that lingers in your thoughts long after the credits roll. Don't miss it.

Devo essere onesto. Ho comprato questo DVD soltanto per trovarci dentro una fantastica colonna sonora, composta e suonata da Mark Knopfler

I saw Cal when it came out in 1984 at the Harvard Square Theatre, back when it specialized in classic American films, what we call now independent films, and small foreign movies. That theatre in this form doesn't exist anymore, nor do films like this one. The demise of both is a shame. The fact that there is no DVD version of Cal speaks to how even today a film with the scope and subject of this particular one might seem less than economically viable to a distributor. Like the wonderful short novel it is based upon, and adapted no less by the novelist himself, Bernard MacLaverty, Cal is a bleak, dark film--depressing even. How could a film about the Troubles in Northen Ireland not be? Nonetheless, it is a beautifully filmed movie, its scope honed down to the bone so that through the story of Cal McCluskey, reluctanct IRA getaway driver, and his terrible guilt for his role in the assassination of a local Protestent cop, followed by his love for the dead man's widow, Marcella, we see the whole awfulness, madness, and tragedy of the Troubles. That's a lot for a film this small to accomplish, yet it does, all the while never overstepping its modest style and approach. What makes this film work is the artfully understated performances by all its cast, but in particular John Lynch as the inarticulate young man at the center of the story. Then there is Dame Helen Mirren in one of her early film roles. She's young here, younger than you remember her ever being, but she is still Helen Mirren, one of the great actors in contemporary film. And in the unflashy role of the young widow, she is, naturally, excellent. So is the haunting, Gaelic tinged score by Mark Knopfler, one of his best. Is this a great film? No. But it is a film that is uncompromising about what it wants to do: to show how war and bigotry affect the innocent. If you want that kind of movie, then this is worth spending 5 dollars on. Or much more.

Good for it's time...a bit dated