Cal

1984
6.6| 1h42m| R| en
Details

Cal, a young man on the fringes of the IRA, falls in love with Marcella, a Catholic woman whose husband, a Protestant policeman, was killed one year earlier by the IRA.

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Reviews

Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!
BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See
Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation
Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict
Kirpianuscus the atmosphere, the predictable end, Cal as a kind of new Raskolnikov, the love story , the cinematography, all, each are pieces of a beautiful film about pain, past and regrets. and this is the explanation why "Cal" remains, against the errors, a gem . because it reflects, in delicate-precise manner, a state. ambiguous, profound, Irish at whole, shadow of deep solitude and the illusion to escape from yourself. and, sure, the chance to have two great actors in the lead roles is one of the good things. but its force is result of the belief in the second chance. and in the forgiveness who could change everything. in essence, it is the film of John Lynch who gives a splendid Cal. but, in same measure, it is one of films for remember. not only the traces of the past. but the price of its errors.
jhowar1 It's interesting to see Irish reviewers' takes on movies like this. I haven't seen Cal in years, but I still listen to the beautiful soundtrack by Mark Knopfler. I put it on this morning, which is why I thought to look up the movie here.I remember being captivated by the drama of this young kid in over his head, both with the IRA and in his romance with an older woman. The scenes had a raw grittiness that felt very real to me when I saw it in the theater, back in the mid-1980s.So it's surprising to me to hear the film described by at least one reviewer here as both unlikely and clichéd. And I can't argue with that, in terms of history or culture or politics, because I wasn't there. Anyone who lived in Belfast at the time would surely have a more realistic view of the IRA and of Irish culture than I do.But this morning, my young son looked up when that first song came on, and gave me a look, like, "What in the world is this?" After the song ended, he said, "Dad, it's so beautiful, it almost hurts." That's how I always felt about Cal. I'm a sucker for anything that's both beautiful and sad. That's how I remember the movie.
wvisser-leusden 'Cal' deals with a subject that has been history for quite a long time by now: the violence in Northern Ireland between Protestants and Roman Catholics.Its plot is about a young Roman Catholic man who gets drawn in the terrorist IRA movement. He does not want that, but is too weak to resist. Of course, after having been involved in some violent acts, he cannot get out anymore. The tragedy is even more accentuated by a simultaneous love affair.This film just doesn't show any flaw. First of all, there is the magnificent acting of female lead Helen Mirren. Supported well by plenty of other good acting. The quality of the shooting. The bitter-sweet undertone of its tragic plot throughout its entire length. And, most of all, its setting against an Irish decor that was very actual in 1984.I happened to be in Dublin that year, and remember well the many sold-out performances of 'Cal' in the local cinema's. As well as the crowds of people queuing outside to get their tickets for the next show.
taia The film "Cal" is about a young boy who falls in love with Marcella, both Catholic. Cal "works" for the IRA, and he participated in the killing of Marcella's husband. Cal wants to get out of the IRA, but that's not too easy. Anyway, the whole story is really about the relationship between Cal and Marcella, a great Irish love story. A story with an Irish ending...