Frankie Starlight (1995)
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71% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
62% of users liked it
(331 ratings)
A small man with a big story examines the facts of his life in this drama. As Frank Bois enjoys the success of his first novel, he finds himself looking back on his highly unusual life. Frank's mother Bernadette (Anne Parillaud) was a French woman who, after the death of her parents and several… More A small man with a big story examines the facts of his life in this drama. As Frank Bois enjoys the success of his first novel, he finds himself looking back on his highly unusual life. Frank's mother Bernadette (Anne Parillaud) was a French woman who, after the death of her parents and several close friends in World War II, smuggled herself aboard an Allied troop ship sailing to Ireland, exchanging sexual favors for silence among the soldiers who discovered her on board. A kind-hearted customs agent, Jack Kelly (Gabriel Byrne), allowed Bernadette to enter Ireland, and they soon became lovers, even though she was already carrying the child of one of the soldiers from the ship. Bernadette soon gave birth to young Frankie (Alan Pentony), who suffered from dwarfism. As he grew older, Frankie fell for Jack's daughter Emma (Georgina Cates), who clearly didn't care for him, while Jack generously shared his knowledge of astronomy with Frankie. Eventually, Bernadette encountered Terry Klout (Matt Dillon), an American soldier from the troop ship, who offered to marry her. Bernadette and Frankie accompanied Terry to his home in Texas, but both mother and son felt like fish out of water in the American West, and they returned to the Irish home they came to love. A sadder but wiser Bernadette eventually committed suicide, and Frank began to draw upon his life experiences as he put pen to paper for his first book. Based on the novel The Dork of Cork by Chet Raymo, Frankie Starlight was directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Michael Lindsay-Hogg
- Written By
- Chet Raymo, Ronan O'Leary
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Nov 22, 1995 Wide
- Studio
- New Line Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Poetic story of one lonely individual's spiritual search for beauty, meaning and love.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Anne Parillaud
as Bernadette Bois
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Matt Dillon
as Terry Klout
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Gabriel Byrne
as Jack Kelly
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Corban Walker
as Frank Bois
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Rudi Davies
as Emma Kelly
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Alan Pentony
as Young Frank
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Sage Allen
as Bar Proprietress
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Christopher Casson
as Bookshop Gentleman
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Martin Dunne
as Friend At Wedding No. 1
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Aidan Grenell
as Bookshop Manager
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Dearbhla Molloy
as Effa Kelly
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Martin Murphy
as Guest At Wedding
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Derry Power
as Friend At Wedding No. 2
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Niall Toibin
as Handy Paige
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Barbara Alyn Woods
as Marcia
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Elizabeth Haas Keller
as TV Interviewer
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Jean-Claude Frissung
as Albert Bois
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Kit Kincannon
as Man In Bar
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Julien Negulesco
as Bernadette's Uncle
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Julian Wadham
as Roger Manning
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Georgina Cates
as Young Emma
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Guy Verame
as Interpreter
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Corine Blue
as Bernadette's Aunt
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Aiden Grennell
as Bookshop Manager
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Alan Devine
as Bernadette's Friend On Beach
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Tristan Gribbin
as Bookshop Assistant
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Jessie-Ann Friend
as Lisa
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Pauline Cadell
as Prostitute
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John S. Davies
as Tobin
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Owen Roe
as Senior Customs Officer
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Victoria Begeja
as Anne Marie Bois
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Ulrich Funke
as German Officer
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Amber Hibler
as Charleen
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Aisling Leyne
as Girl In Gallery
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Laurent Mellet
as Bernadette's Friend On Beach
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Edward Naessens
as Bernadette's Friend On Beach
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David Parnell
as Photographer
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Ann Weakley
as Midwife
- Christine Keane
- Julian Negulesco
- Allen Panginy
- Corbin Walker
