DANCING AT LUGHNASA

 

Dancing at Lughnasa (1998) is the tale of six adult unmarried Mundy siblings who reside together in a small Irish town in the fall of 1936. The eldest, Father Jack Mundy (Michael Gambon), is a priest who has returned after 25 years of being a missionary in Africa. Kate (Streep) is the eldest of the five Mundy sisters. She is a schoolteacher and has assumed a “head of the household” role. Agnes (Brid Brennan) makes income by knitting gloves along with Rose (Sophie Thompson) who is developmentally challenged. They refer to her as “simple”. Maggie (Kathy Burke) is the smart aleck cut-up who helps keep tensions to a minimum. And the youngest is Christina (Catherine McCormack), the unwed mother of Michael. During the time of the film, Michael is 7 years old. The story is narrated through his adult eyes as he reminisces about this special moment in time, one spent with all these adults who each showered him with love and education. It would be the last summer all of them would share together.

The central theme of the story is one of change. Kate does not like that their newly acquired radio has brought 1930s dance and folk music into the household. Many locals have become involved in Pagan celebrations. Innocent Rose ponders becoming involved with a married man whose wife has left him. Even older brother Jack returns seemingly more accepting of African traditions, wisdom, and rituals than with the Catholic messages he went to Africa to share. In a time when unmarried women have few options for income, an impending factory threatens to take away the livelihood that Agnes and Rose earn with their knitting skills.

The cinematography of the lush Irish landscapes is immensely beautiful. All the actors shine brightly and provide rich characterizations. Streep, Thompson, and Burke are standouts but only slightly. And it should be of no surprise that Streep’s Irish accent is flawless. That said, this film is a contradiction in many ways. It is dull yet never uninteresting. It is heartfelt yet often dissatisfying. It is bleak, yet marvelously truthful. Its honesty comes from pondering the realities it unveils versus the memories of a young boy.

One can imagine that Streep was added to the cast to hopefully elevate box office earnings. The movie is an adaptation of a stage play and those can often be difficult to transition for wide appeal. In fact, I highly doubt this film had, or will have, that degree of appeal. But I know that anyone who enjoys good storytelling, great acting, and introspection of the journey that women have endured throughout the ages, will find value in viewing Dancing at Lughnasa.