Falling for a Dancer

This is a wonderfully acted story of young Irish Catholic girl who is compelled to marry an unattractive widower(her only other option is a horrifying workhouse) after she's become pregnant (the proverbial one-night-stand) with a traveling actor.

Elisabeth Dermot Walsh (the young woman) and Liam Cunningham (neighbor and cousin-in-law) are absolutely delightful and maintain the viewer's interest throughout. The production is also beautiful. Dermot Walsh as a "dutiful" wife forced in a dreary loveless marriage is fantastic -- her disastrous flirtation at a local dance is actually understandable, given the stark circumstances that surround her. Cunningham conveys everything through his eyes and convincing acting. They're stunning and memorable.

Lovely, highly entertaining story.

Falling for a Dancer is a story that transcends time and place. Set in rural Ireland during the depression, it depicts a young woman pregnant and forced into a loveless marriage of a man who needed a mother for his brood.Hard work and many pitfalls,including widowhood, she is loved from afar by her neighbour, a caring decent man. Mossie has incredible passion for Beth, he is longing to be noticed by her, loves her children and behaves like a devoted neighbour.....attentive, helpful and practical, yet she is oblivious I loved the way church parish life was the centre of the community in the story. When Beth's daughter became pregnant in much the same way the mother did, Beth goes first to the local priest to tell him the news, not for help but to say they intend to manage and continue church attendance. Beth reacted to the daughter's news by saying " we will be legends in our own lifetime " How refreshing for a 15 year old mother - to - be, to be told to walk tall coimng out of church. Falling for a Dancer had just the right amount of realism, regret and romance. It is a rich story well told. Great ending too Congratulations to all the cast Highly recommended Catherine Cromwell. New Zealand

I have to agree with other reviewers that this Irish movie is above average. Although it's not a recent production, it's certainly worth tracking down. I got my copy via my public library. The actors, the dialogue and the storyline are top-notch. Add to that the bleak landscape and realistic handling of this isolated location, and you can really 'feel' how difficult it was for our young female lead character. Each character was fully realized and even the children were very well portrayed. A very mature and intelligent approach to a timeless story of young, naive infatuation and how the 'land' and community can shape your life. I was truly impressed by the solid acting, especially by the main protagonists. The pace was perfect and the emotions this story hit upon were subtly yet authentically presented. Kudos for this little-known movie/mini-series.

I saw about forty minutes of this film whilst channel-flicking and kept watching because it was so unutterably dreadful. All things Irish got a good flogging; everyone seemed to be called Danny or Seamus and people carried sheep around. I ask you.

Good to rent for a laugh if you want to bore someone on a date.

I surfed my way to this movie one day by accident, and the breathtaking scenery of Ireland caught my attention. After a very short time I was lost in the story and the characters. I enjoy movies that take me to other places and other times, and this one does both. This was a grand story, full of the passions that cause both tragedy and happiness for it's people. The location was so well represented that it left a feeling in me that I had actually been to Ireland. We seldom see stories of with such a sweeping scope in a made-for-television movie. I saw this movie over 4 years ago and have been waiting ever since then to see it again, as I did miss the first half hour or so of it. The many people in this film are so real, so well fleshed out, that the author is to be congratulated as well as the marvelous cast, of which none were known to me, and being new faces were all that much more real to me. I recommend it without hesitation that anyone who enjoys a real romance, full of difficulties, trials and misunderstandings that get in the way of all who seek happiness in life.