Circle of Friends (1995)

Director:

Pat O'Connor

Writers:

Maeve Binchy (novel)
Andrew Davies (writer)

Release Date:

15 March 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Sometimes dreams do come true.

Plot:

'Circle Of Friends' is set in 1950's Ireland. The movie focuses on Benny Hogan and her best friend, Eve Malone...

Plot Keywords:

Coming Of Age | Abortion | 1950s | Ireland | Love

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Chris O'Donnell	...	Jack Foley
Minnie Driver	...	Bernadette 'Benny' Hogan
Geraldine O'Rawe	...	Eve Malone
Saffron Burrows	...	Nan Mahon
Alan Cumming	...	Sean Walsh
Colin Firth	...	Simon Westward
Aidan Gillen	...	Aidan Lynch
Mick Lally	...	Dan Hogan
Britta Smith	...	Mrs. Hogan
John Kavanagh	...	Brian Mahon
Ruth McCabe	...	Emily Mahon
Ciarán Hinds	...	Professor Flynn
Tony Doyle	...	Dr. Foley
Marie Mullen	...	Mrs. Foley
Marie Conmee	...	Mrs. Healey

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Ireland | USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #33539) | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:AL | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Lantana

Trivia:

To make Chris O'Donnell appear to be much taller than Minnie Driver than he really is, she had to walk in a ditch when they were filming the scene of their stroll in Knockglen.

Quotes:

[about sex]
Bernadette 'Benny' Hogan: I don't know. Sometimes it seems like such a strange sort of thing to want to do. You know, ridiculous. Like someone putting their finger up your nose or something.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - Reinventing a Hero (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

I Hear Your Knocking

Favorite book but movie isn't up to it

This is my favorite book. Maeve Binchy is my favorite author. I think the movie falls a bit short her intricately weaved story. Naturally there will be changes from book to screen but some of the things left out are the very things that make this story so lovable. If they had extended the length of the film then a lot more could have been done. A better development of characters and relationships could have taken place.

If you've read the book than you know how significant the ending change is. It nearly changes the whole character of Benny. As glad as I am that Jack and Benny got back together in the film I think a truer growth of character would have occurred if they kept the original book ending.

It is a decent film. Watchable. If you love this book than you might like the film. If you're obsessed then it is worth the cash. I wish I had it.