give us a break, Frank (Angela's Ashes (DVD))

Member Name: emah

Product:	Angela's Ashes (DVD)
Date:	14/10/01 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: blk comedy in parts, easy to follow, good commentry

Disadvantages: depressing, far fetched, a bit too political

The supposedly true life story of aythor Frank McCourt growing up in Limerick City in the 1930s &40s. Though a gritty and harrowing portrayal of his poor unhealthy and malnourished young life there was at times a hint of black comedy which proved apt and effective. Following their return from America the film follows his next twelve years or so in which he loses two, or is it three siblings, his father does a runner and his mother is forced to almost prostitute herself for the good of the family. If you look below the surface of the film one can make out that it is really a bitter attack upon the Catholic Church and the amount of control it had over Ireland at the time. It looks at the futility of living in an almost exclusively rural economy under which they are damned if they do and damned if they don't by a Church that clearly in his view is largely responsible for the socio economic climate he finds himself in. Though a tug at the heart strings film it is difficult to get too involved in it as you know the outcome, i.e he goes to England does o.k and makes millions writing his book and making this fim. This is on top of the amount of people who having grown up with him called his story innacurate and an exaggeration of the times. Never the less a good film if you've got a spare three hours or so.

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