IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > Some Mother's Son (1996)
Some Mother's Son
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Some Mother's Son (1996) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 8 | slideshow) Videos
Some Mother's Son (1996) -- Open-ended Trailer from Columbia

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   1,216 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 27% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Terry George (written by) &
Jim Sheridan (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Some Mother's Son on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 December 1996 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Between love and loyalty... Between life and death... Lies a choice no mother should have to make.
Plot:
Based on the true story of the 1981 hunger strike in a British prison, in which IRA prisoner Bobby Sands... more | add synopsis
Awards:
4 wins more
User Reviews:
moving yet underrated film more (22 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Helen Mirren ... Kathleen Quigley
Fionnula Flanagan ... Annie Higgins
Aidan Gillen ... Gerard Quigley

David O'Hara ... Frank Higgins
John Lynch ... Bobby Sands

Tom Hollander ... Farnsworth
Tim Woodward ... Harrington

Ciarán Hinds ... Danny Boyle

Geraldine O'Rawe ... Alice Quigley
Gerard McSorley ... Fr. Daly
Dan Gordon ... Inspector McPeake
Grainne Delany ... Theresa Higgins
Ciarán Fitzgerald ... Liam Quigley
Robert Lang ... Government Minister

Stephen Hogan ... Young Turk
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Sons and Warriors (video catalogue title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for language and some political violence and suffering.
Runtime:
112 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Germany:12 (bw) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Ireland:15 (re-rating on appeal) | Ireland:18 (original rating)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Character actor Robert Lang was reunited on screen in this film opposite Helen Mirren nearly 25 years after portraying her father in Savage Messiah (1972) by Ken Russell. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The film is clearly set in a border seaside fishing village in Ireland. However, Kathleen is clearly seen voting in the Fermanagh-South Tyrone by-election: a completely land-locked constituency. more
Quotes:
Farnsworth: We want to make the prisons an asset, not a liability. It is in the prisons that we will break the backs of the IRA. more
Movie Connections:
Version of The Rising of the Moon (2002) more
Soundtrack:
Soldier's Song more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
8 out of 15 people found the following review useful.
moving yet underrated film, 11 May 2005
9/10
Author: crookedmouth2003 from boston

With an excellent cast, soundtrack and photography this film's one flaw is that it must over-simplify a complex and pivotal episode in Irish history. Despite that it does a fairly good job of capturing the essence of what happened, smartly exposing the viewer to this rarely seen world through the eyes of a middle-class mother whose son, unknown to her, is caught up in the incendiary world of 'the Troubles' of Northern Ireland.

Convicted of taking part in an attack on British forces as part of an IRA Active Service Unit, her son quickly finds himself the cell-mate of soon-to-be-IRA-icon/martyr, Bobby Sands. Although the film does not really explore the personality of this seminal figure (for ex: that he was a poet), it does convey the gravity of the situation he was thrust in as well as the huge impact the hunger strike had on the Northern Irish, indeed people around the world.

But more so, this film is about the suffering that the women in these situations, particularly the mothers (hence the title) must endure. They have no choice in the tragedy that forces itself on their lives, yet they must find ways to overcome and affect what positive change they can.

Some say there is not enough "action" in the film. It is not an "action" movie. There are plenty of Dolph Lundgren vehicles out there if that is all you want. This film is about how episodes of moving history effects everyday people's lives.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (22 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Some Mother's Son (1996)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Does Anyone Know If Gerard Quigley Or His Mother Were Based On Anybody? sockstuff
Facebook site on our DVD protest! The_Mad_Russian
Farnsworth? mman37x
Missing pieces? cocolocochick20
Does Anybody Know If This Is Coming Out On DVD? amovielover
Song? Maxine_Faulk
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Sunshine Breakfast on Pluto Die Blechtrommel A Dry White Season La historia oficial
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb Ireland section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.