Claire Dolan (1998)

25% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(287 ratings)

American filmmaker Lodge Kerrigan (Clean, Shaven) directed this French production, set in New York. Dublin native Claire (Katrin Cartlidge of Naked and Career Girls) is a New York prostitute constantly working to eliminate her debt to menacing Roland Cain (Colm Meaney), who's known her since she was… More American filmmaker Lodge Kerrigan (Clean, Shaven) directed this French production, set in New York. Dublin native Claire (Katrin Cartlidge of Naked and Career Girls) is a New York prostitute constantly working to eliminate her debt to menacing Roland Cain (Colm Meaney), who's known her since she was a child. After the death of her mother, Claire sets out to unleash her pent-up feelings and gain control of her life. She meets a guy in a bar and has sex, is befriended by calm cabbie Elton (Vincent D'Onofrio), visits her Newark cousin, plays with her niece, and eventually tells Elton that she wants to have a baby. Atonal score by Ahrin Mishan and Simon Fisher. Shown in competition at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Lodge Kerrigan
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Nov 18, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Feb 21, 2006
Studio: New Yorker Films

Critic Reviews

Hannah Brown, New York Post
In spite of Cartlidge's impressive performance in the lead, the film is simply not as involving or moving as it should be.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
[Kerrigan] accepts the challenge of central characters who do not let us know what they're thinking.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
Devotes so much of its energy to building and sustaining a mood of urban desolation that the story never quite jells.
J. Hoberman, Village Voice
Less awful than inert, Claire Dolan comes across as a willfully bad movie.
Jeremiah Kipp, Filmcritic.com
Clinically austere.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Shattering in its own quiet way.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Mark A

A heartbreaking performance by Katrin Cartlidge as a woman caught in an invisible prison of debt and obligation. Colm Meaney is superb as the cold-hearted shylock to whom she owes a debt and pays it off by working in the sex trade. Vincent DOnofrio plays the quiet, working man who… More
A heartbreaking performance by Katrin Cartlidge as a woman caught in an invisible prison of debt and obligation. Colm Meaney is superb as the cold-hearted shylock to whom she owes a debt and pays it off by working in the sex trade. Vincent DOnofrio plays the quiet, working man who tries to love Claire/Lucy, but finds his love inadequate to break through to the core of Claire. It is dark, but ends on a faintly flickering note of hope. It will not be easy for her to deal with the consequences of the choices she has made, but one has to hope she has the resources to pull it off. Not all questions are answered, but the story line is believable and the actors made it come alive for this viewer. Ms. Cartlidge glows with a flawed beauty that is tempered with steely resolve. That combination is what makes the film so poignant.
Dimitris S

A savage creature lurking in the dark,somber city of New York.Perfect!!!Kerrigan introduces to us a surreal environment in all its passiveness,how illuminating this is,Dardenne portray the suicidal community,their U.S. fellow director dwells in it.The relief of the everyday life,the… More
A savage creature lurking in the dark,somber city of New York.Perfect!!!Kerrigan introduces to us a surreal environment in all its passiveness,how illuminating this is,Dardenne portray the suicidal community,their U.S. fellow director dwells in it.The relief of the everyday life,the late Cartlidge in a magnificent performance as the object of demolishing senses.