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Holistic Guidance - The McCourts of Limerick
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List Price: $19.95
Our Price: $14.78
Your Save: $ 5.17 ( 26% )
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: New Video Group
Starring: Mike McCourt, Alphie McCourt, Frank McCourt, Malachy McCourt
Directed By: Conor McCourt
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780767012577
Format: Color
ISBN: 0767012577
Label: New Video Group
Manufacturer: New Video Group
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: New Video Group
Release Date: 2002-04-11
Running Time: 60
Studio: New Video Group
Theatrical Release Date: 1998-03-17
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Editorial Reviews:
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In keeping with the enduring spirit of Frank McCourt's phenomenal bestseller Angela's Ashes, this hour-long documentary is literally a family affair. It's really a home movie, directed by Conor McCourt, the son of Frank's brother Malachy, that has been made public for the many fans of Frank's book and Malachy's own acclaimed memoir, A Monk Swimming. That the film has an amateurish quality in both sound and image only enhances its value as a personal document of primary importance to the McCourts themselves but equally interesting for anyone with a fondness for all things Irish. Through interviews and personal anecdotes, we quickly learn that the four surviving McCourt brothers (Frank, Malachy, Michael, and Alphonsus) are a stalwart bunch, having weathered a family history that is quintessentially Irish. Embittered by an uncaring Catholic church and by the absence of their irresponsible father, they lived with their hardy but chronically depressed mother with an equal blend of abject misery and joyful adventure. (At one point, a tearful Frank later describes this lifestyle as "suffering with good humor" when recalling the indomitable vitality of his neighbors in the town of Limerick.) They were "laners," so-called for their residence on the poverty-stricken lanes of Limerick, where your next meal was never guaranteed and the women known as "shawlies" (so named for their dark shawls) were forced to plead to justify their meager assistance payments. Three of the seven McCourt children died while still very young--"sheer ignorance" being the cause of their preventable illness, according to Frank. Angela never fully recovered from the loss, and her husband's selfish disappearance into a life of perpetual youth left her to persevere as best she could. But The McCourts of Limerick is far from being a chronicle of sadness; indeed, humor is abundant throughout the film, and each of the brothers has a gift for telling wonderful stories from their eventful pasts. What emerges from this heartfelt, highly personal portrait is a sense of lives well lived, of deep, abiding love throughout the hardship and pain, and a rich appreciation for the kinds of people who, as Frank observes, were able to make "poetic statements about their plight." --Jeff Shannon
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: An Essential Video for Fans of the Brothers McCourt
Comment: "The McCourts of Limerick" has almost been an annual visitor to PBS television affiliate WNET viewers for years now, airing around the time of Saint Patrick's Day. It was quickly produced soon after the publication of Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes", and regrettably, has more of the production values of a typical home family video than the succeeding "The McCourts of New York". And yet, what a "home family video" this is from documentary filmmaker Conor McCourt, who excels in recounting the harsh, brutal existence endured by his father Malachy and uncles Frank, Michael and Alphie while growing up in the impoverished lanes of Limerick, Ireland. It is replete with much of the same mordant, bittersweet, and yet, quite hilarious humor which those familiar with the McCourt family saga have come to expect, especially from distinguished writer Frank McCourt and his eldest brother, actor and writer Malachy McCourt. McCourties - diehard fans of Frank's and Malachy's prose - will regard this memorable video as yet another essential one to be added to their collections of Brothers McCourt memorabilia.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellant
Comment: Both my wife, and myself enjoyed the tape. It was entertaining, and informative. We feel that they shared a good part of their life.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fine example of personal documentaries
Comment: I haven't read Frank's books but the video immediately grabbed my attention as I tried to sort out the various brothers and timelines.
Superior to the following "McCourts of New York," the brothers opened up to the nephew in terms of their upbringing, how their street geography defined their view of the world, & great slips of past plays.
I particularly loved Frank's story of stealing apples on base and how the American soldiers threatened to execute the starving boys who couldn't work up the nerve to ask for jam or butter on their bread as a "last meal."
Also Malachy's tearful story of their father and a faerie spring was touching and gave a glimpse of a truly magical episode. Even more heart rendering was the story of their mother anticipating his increasingly infrequent returns.
This isn't on Netflix so I would definitely reccomend checking this out.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The McCourts
Comment: If you are a fan of the McCourt literary legacy, then you will definately want to add this to your collection. It is an informative, thoughtful, and touching film that is sure to add to the whole McCourt experience.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Closure
Comment: If you are Irish and have already read Angela's Ashes,you must see this video. I have almost become a McCourt Groupie and I really liked this documentry. The film answers some of the questions that I had when I read the book. Have a go at it db
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