The Commitments

I just happened to be flicking around the channels and came across BBC1's Movie Connections programmes that brought back some memories.

The Commitments was first released when I moved to Dublin and it is one of the first things I remember doing on a night on, going to see the movie. At the time it was playing in cinemas around the clock. I remember having a press release for the movie at the time, all swish and even with a Dublin to English translator. Well I used to have it, but God knows where it has disappeared to over the time since.

When I went to see the movie I remember sitting behind this gang of giggling girls who annoyed me no end, eh no change there then but I remember the pride around the film. This was more than cool cos I was a newly-adopted Dub, well a blow-in but sure.

The thrill the movie brought to the city was huge, the pride immense and it is a cool memory for me particularly given the fact I was from Belfast and anything made there had us locked in the 1970s with awful clothes and awful story lines. But hey I'm not knocking anything I have always loved something set in Belfast, even if it is to tear it apart because it isn't realistic.

Anyway The Commitments, what a great movie. The programme explored the casting, quite a brave and wonderful move/s (going with mostly unknowns) among lots of other things, so if you get a chance to catch it again do watch it. Wonderful altogether.