Falling for a Dancer

Loved this movie! This adaptation of the Deirdre Purcell novel runs approximately 190 minutes and is worth every second. In the beginning of the film, Elizabeth Sullivan has her first romance with an actor in a traveling show and finds herself pregnant and the actor long gone. Her parents, wanting to avoid embarrassment, consult their priest for advise and he comes up with a recently widowed older man with young children who needs a wife. Left with few options, Elizabeth, played beautifully by newcomer Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh, marries this stranger and endures a life much harder than the privileged one she left. Her husband, Neeley, treats her like property he's paranoid of losing, but not especially cherished property.

Watching from the hill above is Neeley's cousin, Mossie Sheenan (Liam Cunningham). Neeley inherited his farm from Mossie's father, who died when Mossie was very young and probably before he could change his will to leave the place to his son - a situation that has caused bad blood between them. This has Elizabeth misinterpreting just about everything Mossie does as being motivated by a desire to either cause Neeley trouble or to regain his land.

There isn't much more we can tell without giving away too much, but this movie has everything you can hope for . . .a great story, beautiful scenery, haunting music, and WONDERFUL ACTING. Liam Cunningham gives a powerful performance as the brooding Mossie Sheehan. As a man of few words in most of the movie, he had to tell the viewer most of what his character is feeling through his eyes, facial expressions, and body language, and actors who can handle such a task this well are rare and deserving of praise.

Falling for a Dancer is a story that transcends time and place. Set in rural Ireland during the depression, it depicts a young woman pregnant and forced into a loveless marriage of a man who needed a mother for his brood.Hard work and many pitfalls,including widowhood, she is loved from afar by her neighbour, a caring decent man. Mossie has incredible passion for Beth, he is longing to be noticed by her, loves her children and behaves like a devoted neighbour.....attentive, helpful and practical, yet she is oblivious I loved the way church parish life was the centre of the community in the story. When Beth's daughter became pregnant in much the same way the mother did, Beth goes first to the local priest to tell him the news, not for help but to say they intend to manage and continue church attendance. Beth reacted to the daughter's news by saying " we will be legends in our own lifetime " How refreshing for a 15 year old mother - to - be, to be told to walk tall coimng out of church. Falling for a Dancer had just the right amount of realism, regret and romance. It is a rich story well told. Great ending too Congratulations to all the cast Highly recommended Catherine Cromwell. New Zealand

This film is beautiful, interesting and very moving.

The story of a young girl that gets pregnant by an actor in a traveling theatrical company and is married off to a 40 year old widower to avoid scandal.

The 3 hours grant enough time for the story to unfold itself without hurry. Characters have time to be developed properly. The landscape has time to grow on you.

All the actors really deserve praise for this. Especially Liam Cunningham and Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh. Eleanor Methven should be mentioned too.

Although this film is now sold as a Colin Farrell vehicle, his role is really very small - although certainly one of his best.

I give this movie 10/10 and really cannot understand why it is that underrated here.

This came on Romance Classics one Sunday and before it came on they showed a preview on it. So, I thought I knew what it was going to be about when it started. But it was a really captivating story that exceeded my expectations. I wish I had taped it, it was that good. It's a multi-level story which I found made it even more enjoyable. I really loved the dress that Elizabeth wore for a scene in the movie. You'll have to see it to know what I mean and I hope that you do.

Beautiful film set in Ireland (coastline) in the 1930's. The story of various people who bravely hardships and significant problems. The main character, a young woman, manages a top-notch performance in a very difficult role. The film shows the callous and brutal side of people, as well as the lovely and the courageous side. The scenery is gorgeous and the isolated setting, appropriate to the story is also menacing. I watched in awe as I participated in the lives of people in a different world than mine struggle and endure. The problems and the often transient joys are universal and should apply to everyone. "Times change. People never do." Please do yourself a favor and see this 200 minute four part series. I was able to check it out of our local library, but I highly recommend buying it if you can't find it anywhere.