The efforts of friends to stick together through the toughest of times and the theme of rustic morality opposed to the vices of the city are thoroughly explored in tonight's installment of the "New Celtic Cinema" series.
"Circle of Friends," a warm, unpretentious coming-of-age film set in late 1950's Ireland will show at Loew Auditorium tonight as part of its series on Celtic cinema.
Based on a 1990 novel by Maeve Binchy, "Circle of Friends" is the story of three girl friends from a small Irish village who find themselves suddenly exposed to the opportunities and vices of big-town Dublin when they start attending Trinity College.
The movie focuses on the moral decisions that the three friends have to make about their lives while existing in a society that is uncompromisingly Catholic.
Nan (Saffron Burrows) is the most focused of the three. She is determined to rise above her humble upbringing into the Protestant middle class and to use her sex appeal as the ticket out. Thus resolved, she sets her sights on Simon Westward (Colin Firth, "Mr. Darcy" in the currently airing mini-series of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" on A&E) with near-tragic results.
Eve (Geraldine O'Rawe) is an orphan raised in a convent who must overcome her pride and approach her mother's relatives for tuition money.
Benny (Minnie Driver) is the focus of the film. Forbidden by her small-town parents to go out at night, she is the object of lust by her father's creepy clerk, who has eyes on his business.
Large and plain, she is taken with Jack (Chris O'Donnell), the most eligible boy on campus, but fears that she has no chance next to beautiful Nan. But with her charm and strength of character, Benny wins over the good-natured Jack.
"Circle of Friends" is directed by Pat O'Connor, who also made "Cal" and "A Month in the Country." He "approaches the material with rueful affection" according to Janet Maslin of The New York Times.
The shots of the lush, verdant Irish landscape -- almost a prerequisite for this type of movie--are lovingly photographed by cinematographer Kenneth MacMillan. This film is charm incarnated.
