Angela's Ashes

I tried to get my husband to watch this for years. When he finally did he was enthralled.

Great DVD. Excellent customer service from seller. Thank you.

The movie begins with a voiceover which asks how the main character Frank survived growing up in Ireland. He said he had a miserable childhood. What he meant by that is shown in the first scene when his newborn sister dies. That’s just the beginning of the tragedies. That’s what the story is all about, the struggle to survive for his family. Mixed in with that is boyish things like going to school, playing in the streets, hearing about girls, etc in this coming of age story. Luckily as Frank gets older the plot lightens up otherwise it would be too depressing. In fact there’s even some uplifting moments like when Frank liberates the poor of the city from their debt. Overall this is a very compelling story of a family up against the odds.

A movie worth every penny! A movie you’ll watch more than once!

This video was in perfect condition and came on time.

I wanted an insight into the social and economic conditions of late 1920s Ireland and this is it, without a doubt. If I was only interested in a drama of a simple Irish family, I could see where the one-star reviews are coming from. This movie (I haven't read the book) is a difficult-to-forget depiction of the wretchedness that was endured by a great many people in the Great Depression, almost like a Grapes of Wrath for Limerick, Ireland. I was stunned scene-after-scene in what the locals had to endure and made comparisons to what it's like in the U.S. today for most people (e.g., luxurious by comparison). The rainy, chilly, gloomy weather was the fitting back-drop for an existence that had an absolute paucity of any simple pleasure. My worse days today are vastly better than the best days depicted in the movie. Also highly informative is the overarching influence of strict Catholicism (I grew-up with a version of it). A person could not lift a finger without the bane of Catholicism come crashing down on it. Enjoyed the movie very much for it's insights.

I read review after review about "Angela's Ashes" saying that the book about Frank McCourt's life is not truth but mearly a well written, sad, fictional story. In fact even some people that grew up with Frank McCourt say it isn't true at all. I did some research on Frank McCourt. He grew up Irish and Catholic in Limerick Ireland. I did too but not in Ireland. I grew up in Ohio. However, I know there are things like abuse that are not talked about either in the church or in the community. I couldn't go to my priest or my teachers at school and tell them I was getting beat every other day. Well yes, I suppose I literally could have but I doubt they would do anything back then. Priests and nuns back in the day were really mean people. If you are not Catholic then you do not understand. It was 35 years ago for me and perhaps now things are different. Up until the 1990's people didn't care nor did the police or community leaders. My step-father had the police called on him many times but either my mother would lie or most of the time the police did nothing. As far as I remember charges were never filed against him even after my brothers told the police of his abuse. Is it possible that a family can live a different life than the appearance other people see? YES! I know. I lived it.The famous actor Richard Harris called Frank McCourt a liar. They grew up in the same neighborhood. I BELIEVE FRANK. Why? My wife and I grew up in the same neighborhood, had the same friends and graduated from the same high school of 92 people. Until we started dating 4 years ago she never knew anything that went on in my home. It is amazing what people can hide if they want to. You see it all the time on the news. This couple has a hidden sex slave for years, or bodies buried in the back yard, or this abuse happened right under the nose of everyone else. Is it that much of a stretch to believe Frank's story?In Frank's book "Angela's Ashes" he makes it a point to convey how embarrassing it was for his family to be the poorest of the poor. Perhaps Frank did not get every fact correct and perhaps the movie did not represent the book well but let me leave you with something. When children are ashamed of the worst most horrendous things in their life like abuse and poverty they are not going to step up on a soap box and tell you - especially if they are afraid of the consequences. I did not grow up very poor but I am catholic and Scottish/Irish and was abused and NO ONE knew except my close relatives. There is also an argument that if you were very poor everyone else would know. Sure today that might hold water but back then everyone had it bad. Not even my closest friends knew how bad I had it. So, Frank, wherever you are, I believe you....RIP.

I bought the DVD of Angela's Ashes after purchasing the audio CD of the book (which I highly, highly recommend). Starting with the audion CD, I was enthralled in listening to Frank McCourt's own voice (almost as if he was telling his whole childhood story just to me). I actually was so disappointed when the book ended (because it had me so captivated), I couldn't wait to see the movie. So, I bought it. Now, the strengths of the movie are that you get to see some beautifulm and tragic, areas of where the McCourts came from. The acting was pretty good. The bad part for me was that it seemed so depressing. It was raining constantly (which I know it does frequently in Ireland, but not every day and all the time. Even the audio CD talked of days with sunshine. I think the creator/director of the movie was trying awfully hard to make the McCourt's childhood similar to people living in some kind of an abusive/prison type setting. The audio CD had me laughing out loud at some of the most tragic parts of his life, as Frank inserted his phenominal sense of humor into everything. I didn't seem to get that same feel from the movie. Many scenes that were discussed in the book were either left out or glossed over in the movie all together. After hearing the CD, I felt enlightened, enchanted, craving to hear more of his life (so, I bought 'TIS last week). The movie just wanted to make me cry and get on my knees to thank God I wasn't raised in that area of Ireland during the 1940's. I recommend it only if you have read/are going to read the real book behind this. It is worth seeing to be able to relate to the town and scenery that you will hear/read about in the book.

What a fantastic film and acted brilliantly. If on occasions you are not happy with your life and feel sorry for yourself STOP and watch this film, this film shows you really what it means to be poor and desperate. It’s not easy to watch at times and a proper tear jerker but essential viewing and well worth watching, you’ll never forget it that’s for sure. My review sounds a bit depressing I know but I believe this film should be included in every household to remind people how lucky they are today compared to the hardships of our ancestors. Absolutely brilliant film

I purchased this DVD after reading 'Tis', the sequel to Angela's ashes. The advantage of buying the DVD as opposed to renting the film is that you get to see all the add-ons showing the making of the film and interviews with the actors and director etc. It is telling that the conditions in which McCourt was raised were so utterly dire that nothing like them existed any more when the film was made ,and had to be replicated by some truly amazing set builders. His childhood and relationship with his errant father clearly had a profound effect on McCourt who describes it in minute detail in the most engaging and humorous way.

I absolutely adore this film. Very heart wrenching and content hard to imagine that this really happened with factual narrating throughout & extremely true to Frank Mc Court's biography book about his childhood in impoverished Ireland, slums he lived in with his drunken father & desperate mother trying to survive. Its so hard to imagine people actually lived like that. Very gripping because it's a true story. A MUST SEE 👀 👌

So, very sad but top rated because it demonstrates how 'poor' really meant 'poor'. People today complain of being poor. This film shows how tough it really was to be 'poor' before we had the benefit of birth control, stopping unwanted pregnancies, how difficult it was to get the most meagre amount of financial support just taking taking you out of starvation and what the consequences were if, as in the film, one member of the family miss-appropriates what little money came by their way, squandering it selfishly with disregard to others in the family. It was/is a poignant reminder how life could be if we were not in today's more generous society and perhaps make people realize how fortunate we are and appreciate it better.

Being Irish myself, i heard about this film from my mother who praised it greatly, i decided to buy it online after it being about 15 years since i last saw it (i couldnt remember it as i was only 4 when i first watched it) and i was amazed, it opens your eyes up to all the things Ireland went through. My mother herself had to live through the same kinda thing, in the same situation, i dont see why this film has so many bad reviews, no, its not an action packed film with loads of star celebrities in it, its a drama that is factual, i for one love it, i would recommend it to anyone.