Four Days in July

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Four Days in July
GenreDrama
Written byMike Leigh
Directed byMike Leigh
StarringBrid Brennan
Stephen Rea
Paula Hamilton
Charles Lawson
Eileen Pollock
ComposerRachel Portman
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerKenith Trodd
CinematographyRemi Adefarasin
EditorRobin Sales
Running time96 minutes
Production companyBBC
Original release
NetworkBBC One, BBC HD
Release29 November 1984 (1984-11-29)

Four Days in July is a 1984[1][2][3][4] television film by Mike Leigh. Set and filmed in Belfast, the film explores the Troubles by following the daily lives of two couples on either side of Northern Ireland's religious divide, both expecting their first children.[5] The film's action unfolds over 10–13 July 1984; the two couples' children are both born on 12 July, the date of a Protestant celebration in Northern Ireland known as the Twelfth.[6] Despite the politically charged setting, the film is uniquely uneventful, at least on the surface; Paul Clements writes that "It is hard to identify any full length work by Leigh in which less of consequence seems to happen."[7] Broadcast only once, it was Leigh's last film for the BBC.[8][9]

Cast and crew

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The film stars Paula Hamilton and Charles Lawson as the Protestant couple, Lorraine and Billy, and Brid Brennan and Des McAleer as the Catholic couple, Collette and Eugene.[8] Stephen Rea, Eileen Pollock, B.J. Hogg, and Shane Connaughton appear in secondary roles.[8][9] The film's music was composed by Rachel Portman.[9]

Reception

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In 2009 The Times' Kevin Maher praised the film as a "must-see movie for anyone with a compassionate interest in an 800-year-old political sore."[10]

Notes

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  5. ^ Clements 167
  6. ^ Clements 167–68
  7. ^ 168
  8. ^ a b c Clements 176
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  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

References

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Clements, Paul. "Four Days in July (Mike Leigh)." British Television Drama in the 1980s. Comp. George W. Brandt. Cambridge University Press, 1993. 162–176.

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