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A polished gem from 1995, this disarmingly sweet and dramatically insightful love story provided a charming showcase for Chris O'Donnell and, especially, then-newcomer Minnie Driver, whose performance drew critical raves and boosted her career to Hollywood. Smoothly adapted from the novel by Maeve Binchy and set in Ireland during the 1950s, the story focuses on Benny (Driver), a somewhat plump, plain-looking young woman attending university in Dublin who meets and quickly falls for Jack (O'Donnell), a handsome star of the university's rugby team who surprisingly reciprocates her glowing admiration. They're drawn together as soul mates, and their love is dramatically contrasted with a subplot involving Benny's more conventionally beautiful friend Nan (Saffron Burrows), whose appetite for older men leads her into a misguided and ultimately tragic relationship. A betrayal by Jack sets the stage for potential heartbreak, but director Pat O'Connor prevents these carefully drawn characters from resorting to sappy melodrama. They have lessons to learn about life and love, and Circle of Friends teaches those lessons with grace, humor, and heartfelt sincerity. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (46)

An unlikely love story.
This is one of my favorite movies. The story follows Benny(Minnie Driver) and her best friends Eve and Nan as the discover their own sexuality. Growing up Irish Catholic they have been taught to repress any of their feelings. Benny gets hooked on the cutest boy in school Jack(Chris O'Donnell). And Jack falls for big-girl Benny because she is so easy to talk to. Nan gets involved with an older, rich man Simon(Colin Firth). Benny's parents want her to marry "Creepy Sean Walsh"(Alan Cummings) but Benny refuses to go with him because she is in love with Jack. When Nan gets pregant she changes everyones lives. Defiantly worth watching. Enjoyable, and a great look at Catholics view on Sexuality. And Chris O'Donnell is looking exceptionally good.

A Great Love Story
I first saw this movie several years ago when it was still in the theater and I immediately had to buy it as soon as it came out on video. Now that I have bought the DVD and rewatched the movie, I remember the first time that I saw the movie. I think that many people can relate to the character of Benny, portrayed beautifully by Minnie Driver in her first movie role. The rest of the actors are all well cast for their roles, esp. Chris O'Donnell. Two hidden treats in the movie are Alan Cumming as the creepy Sean Walsh and Colin Firth as Simon Westward. As another reviewer mentioned, no the movie doesn't get into too much of the book. If they did, the film would have been three hours long. To sum it up, it is a sweet love story for someone who never thought that they would get the most popular guy on campus

worth watching
i read the book, but as usual, i try to refrain from comparing the movie to the book. because if you do, you're usually up for one big fat disappointment. i would highly recommend people to read the book too.

this is a pretty straightforward and simplistic film. and my only complaint is that the film doesn't flesh out some things that i really would have liked fleshed out, and it had some loose strings left hanging in the end. for example, i loved eve and aidan as a couple, yet the film gave them pretty flat portrayals. on the one hand, you're left wanting to see more, but on the other hand, there is the possibility that the film could spread itself too thin in terms of plot.

the movie was well cast. minnie driver is phenomenal. chris o'donnell doesn't get much credit. and my other favorite was the one who played eve. she really had spark! and alan cummings as the irrepressible sean walsh just makes me want to barf!

all in all, the movie's plot is a little thin, but the cast and great scenery more than make up for it.

Diappointment
I'm amazed how they could have completely destroyed the theme of such a charming book when adapting it to the screen. The novel didn't focus on the love story of Benny and Jack, but more on how Benny becomes to love and accept herself through her relationship with Jack. Maybe one day someone will make an honest adaptation of this great book.

Read the BOOK
Yes, it is a very good movie, but the book is so much better. It has a way better ending. I suggest first reading the book, it is so much better. ... Read more

Reviews (70)

Magical Irish Tale
The Secret of Roan Innish is a movie unlike any other I have seen. Truly enchanting, haunting, moving, and inspiring, I recommend this movie to anyone who has not lost their sense of childlike wonder, and who remembers fairy tales read on a rainy day.

Roan Innish means Seal Island in Celtic. The story is of a young, orphaned Irish girl determined to uncover her family's secret. Her brother has been missing, and is never mentioned by her traditional and loving grandparents, who are raising her. The intrepid girl uses her detective skills, perseverance, hard work, and all the resources at hand to uncover a mystery greater than she or her grandparents ever imagined.

This is a movie for adults more than children, as the heavy Irish brouge is a bit difficult to translate at first, and the beautiful filmography may seem slow-moving to children. Amazing acting will transport you to a place you have never been and will never forget.

Fiona solves the mystery of the island of Roan Inish
The family of young Fiona (Jeni Courtney) has been touched by tragedy. Her mother has died and no one wants to talk about when her baby brother Jimmy drifted off to sea in his cradle. Fiona is sent to live with her grandfather (Mick Lally) and grandmother (Eileen Colgan) on the coast across from the family's former home on the island of Roan Inish. Everyone from her grandfather to the people she meets in towns have stories to tell young Fiona, about Roan Inish and the selkies, "ceils" who assume human form and can be captured if you but get their skins away from them. Bit by bit Fiona puts the stories of her family and the local legends together until she and her cousin Eamon (Richard Sheridan) finally learn the secret of Roan Inish.

Director John Sayles and cinematographer Haskell Wexler have crafted a simple story, told in leisure about a young girl who believes in her heart long before she has evidence for her eyes. Besides any film that involves a young man having to be tied between two cows for warmth after the sea refuses to drown him is obviously a film worth seeing. Then there all those lilting Irish accents and their wonderful way of coming up with a phrase to describe each situation. Add to this the wonderful soundtrack of Irish music and the captivating mystery and I do not think you will have to worry that the relatively slow pace of the film will lose the interest of your children. They too will want to learn if their suspicions about the island's secret are correct. "The Secret of Roan Inish" is a delightful family film, of the sort we will all agree they simply do not make enough of any more.

Magic!
An absolutely beautiful story building on legends from the west coast and the islands. Captures the magic of the legends better than anything has since my storytimes with an old West Kerry grand uncle.
Beautifully acted by an excellent cast despite the distraction of Judi Courtney's northern accent when the rest of the family have southern accents.
The Selkie is well played by Susan Lynch who has been in many other films including Ned Devine

What a beautiful film
This film was so gorgeous...the scenery was breathtaking. Though I was a bit confused at times about the plot (now I understand it more), overall it was a spectacular piece of cinema. Lovely.

The Secret of Roan Inish
The movie made me want to GO to Ireland - to go to Inishmore (the island off the west coast).
It's a good movie - if someone is interested in Irish folklore, by all means get it!
Oh, I FINALLY did go to Ireland, and Inishmore a few weeks ago, and saw the seals playing on the beach! It's just as beautiful (and mysterious) as the movie! ... Read more