Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3007 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-07-18
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 145 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Because Frank McCourt's bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Angela's Ashes was dearly embraced by millions of readers, it was perhaps inevitable that Alan Parker's film version would prove somewhat disappointing. McCourt's book is blessed with subtleties of language and detailed observation that do not easily lend themselves to screen interpretation, and Parker's film suffers from an overly literal, reverently sombre approach that lacks the cumulative emotions of McCourt's account of impoverished youth in Ireland. And where McCourt was able to enliven his family's suffering with tenacious humour and fighting Irish spirit, Parker's film provides precious little uplift in the course of 145 minutes.

The film is by no means an artistic failure. While admirably avoiding sentiment, Parker is nearly peerless in his direction of children, and the three actors playing Frank at ages 7, 11, and 15 are uniformly superb. As photographed by Michael Seresin, the re-created lanes of Limerick, Ireland are almost painfully authentic in the cold, grey dampness that permeates nearly every scene (this is surely one of the wettest films ever made). As the McCourt parents--chronically depressed Angela and recklessly drunken Malachy--Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle successfully bypass the pitfalls of melodrama in a film that could have wallowed in bathos. And while Parker's anecdotal approach falls short in conveying the fullness of McCourt's experience (the director fared better with the Irish rockers of The Commitments), Angela's Ashes captures a specific time and place with vivid force, remaining loyal to the spirit of Frank McCourt's beloved tale of survival. --Jeff Shannon

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
DVD 9
German
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English German
Dolby Digital 5.1
2 Trailers
Featurette
Commentaries
Interviews
Filmographies
English

Synopsis
ANGELA'S ASHES is the true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt (played at various ages by Joe Breen, Ciaran Owens, and Michael Legge), whose personal memoir became a worldwide phenomenon. When eldest son Frank's baby sister dies and father Malachy (Robert Carlyle) can find no work, the McCourt family is forced to leave America and return to their native Ireland, where conditions are even more destitute than in Brooklyn. Malachy's northern accent is frowned upon in Limerick, keeping him on welfare and the family living in poverty. Things turn even more sour when two more children die and Malachy leaves the family to go to work (or, better yet, drink) in England. He never returns. Frank struggles through the poverty and his new role as man of the house, but throughout the seeming hopelessness his dream of traveling to America keeps him determined and optimistic. The three little-known actors playing Frank are impressive, and Emily Watson gives a quiet, impassioned performance as Frank's mother, Angela. Michael Seresin's photography underscores the deft direction of Alan Parker (THE COMMITMENTS, EVITA), infusing the story with beauty even at its most desperate moments.

Customer Reviews

Fine film, no schmaltz
Over the years, there have been many books and films portraying survival through the extremes of poverty and tragedy, alcohol and death, but few manage to achieve it with such grace and lack of sentimentality. Full credit to Frank McCourt and Alan Parker for avoiding the cliches of Hollywood tearjerkers, but in particular for a vivid reconstruction of life in Limerick in the 30s and 40s, populated by humorous, complex and finely-drawn characters. In particular, Emily Watson, Robert Carlyle and the three actors playing McCourt himself emerge with tremendous credit.

In fact, I managed to avoid any tears but felt uplifted by the whole experience, not least by hearing McCourt himself commenting on the film and his memories. Watch, and be grateful for your own life.

absolutely brilliant.
having read the book and not wanting to get to the end of it, I bought the movie and it was as true to the book as a movie can get. the actors especially the children were excellent. well worth the money. Maura.

Fabulous - utterly wonderful.
What a dream of a film is Angela's Ashes - magical.
I saw the film BEFORE I read the wonderful book (get it now!!!) and was prepared for what you almost always get - something completely different. Not so. As the other reviewer said, the film is amazingly loyal to the book - save for the odd thing here and there, which detracts so very little from the general feel of the book which has translated so well onto the screen in this case.
Frank is just the same in the book - and the atmosphere of constant hunger, cold, damp and desperation is brought to life just as it feels in the book.
The book is more humourous in tone than the film, BUT the film still strikes a good balance I think.
In the book, you get more background into Frank's father which will help explain his actions and eventual abandonment of his family. That was the only thing with the movie - that you were left a bit unclear why or how Malachy Snr could have walked away like that. It is something of a loose end. That aside, I was captivated from the first frame to the last and this must be one of the best films I have seen in a long time.
The result is a tender, bitter-sweet, nostalogic, heartrending tale of a wee lad from Limerick caught up in shocking poverty, and such trying circumstances. How the poor lamb soldiers through it is a wonder, and you cannot get through the film (or the book) without real admiration for Frank and his family and how hard they strive to cope together.
The locations really do give the right feel to the places Frank lived and played in, and the casting is superb - especially the little guy that plays "little" Frank. Oh, he's a treasure to watch.
A must see - a must have: as is the book which you simply cannot go without reading.
Truly touching.