Hi,

A little while back I finished watching the Irish film Evelyn and I can only recommend it in the strongest possible terms to all who like a well-written, funny, heart-warming, amazingly acted, uplifting and unabashedly sentimental bit of drama.

Without a dount it is the best performance Pierce Brosnan has ever delivered and the other actors, above all the young actress Sophie Vavasseur, are following his example.

Here is what the film is about:
Ireland in the 50s. Desmond Doyle is devastated when his wife abandons their family on the day after Christmas. His unemployment and the fact that there is no woman in the house to care for the children, Evelyn, Dermot and Maurice, make it clear to the authorities that his is an untenable situation. The Catholic Church and the Irish courts decide to put the Doyle children into Church-run orphanages.

Because of the truly inhuman way the Irish law worked at the time, he has no hope of getting his children back ... or so it seems. But he dares to take on the authorities and church and fight to get his children back, assisted by a group of equally brave lawyers.

Now I know the more cynical people amongst you will start complaining about this being sappy and unrealistic - but the fact of the matter is that this film is based on a true story, so if you know your Irish history, you won't be surprised in the end.

This is without a doubt amongst the best films I have seen in the last couple of years, not a single shot is fired, no car chase in sight, but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time in a way that few films have managed to draw me in. A very clear 10 out of 10!

Zos

Ohhh it sounds like an emotional rollercoaster.

I guess the Church run orphanages of the time were a bit like old Workhouses? There wasn't much chance of getting out of there either

I'm not sure i could watch the film as i'd probably end up a blubbering wreck! lol

While a comment like 10 out of 10 is tempting to start a new discussion, I don't think it'll be as long as Pocahontas in 3D discussion, so I'll pass ...

pah Blast... I had more faith in you!

What I liked in the film was that it did not descend into the "all church-run places are evil" cliché, there was one really nasty person one of the kids had to deal with, but the others were fairly decent folks.

Betty, you should watch it, it is overall a very uplifting film!

Zos