| Agnes Browne | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Anjelica Huston |
| Produced by | Anjelica Huston Jim Sheridan |
| Written by | Brendan O'Carroll (Book) John Goldsmith |
| Starring | Anjelica Huston Marion O'Dwyer Ray Winstone |
| Music by | Paddy Moloney |
| Cinematography | Anthony B. Richmond |
| Editing by | Eva Gardos |
| Studio | October Films |
| Distributed by | USA Films |
| Release date(s) | December 3, 1999 (Limited) March 3, 2000 |
| Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States Ireland |
| Language | English French |
| Box office | $148,853[1] |
Agnes Browne is a 1999 American/Irish romantic comedy-drama film directed and produced by, and starring Anjelica Huston, based on the book The Mammy by Brendan O'Carroll.[2]
Contents |
The unexpected death of her husband sends Agnes Browne (Anjelica Huston) and her seven children, aged between 2 and 14, into emotional turmoil and financial crisis in 1967 Dublin. She is forced to borrow money from a ruthless loan shark to make ends meet. She faces her dismal existence by selling fruits and vegetables at an open air market based in Dublin's Moore Street where she spends time with her best friend Marion, who proves to be a great source of encouragement during her difficulties. Wishing to escape her existence, if only for a short time, she dreams of finding enough money to attend an upcoming Tom Jones concert. Agnes's dream is realised when Marion secretly buys two tickets and gives them to her. She also accepts the offer of a date with a French baker. Her kids pool their money and buy her a new dress to wear on her first date. Of course, eventually the family has to face the loan shark.
Agnes Browne was not well received in the United States.[3][4] Franz Lidz, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated, called it a flimsy whimsy and chided Roger Ebert for liking it.[5] William Arnold felt that the ending trivialized the story, leaving the audience with the uncomfortable feeling that we've just viewed some episode of a TV sitcom of the era.[6] New York Times reviewer Stephen Holden found it nothing more than a series of homey skits loosely woven into a portrait of a working-class saint.[7]
The film had a better reception in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe, winning the Youth Jury Award at the 1999 San Sebastián International Film Festival. It also received a Grand Prix nomination at the Ghent International Film Festival the same year.[8]
There were also two more books which followed The Mammy: The Chiselers and The Granny. However, these were not made into films.
Brendan O'Carroll has had phenomenal success with the Browne family in Mrs. Brown's Boys both in the theatre and on television.