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The Van (Original title)
Dates: 1996 (Copyright), 29 November 1996 (Release)

Countries: Ireland, USA, United Kingdom

Director: Stephen Frears

Synopsis: In Barrytown, in the suburbs of north Dublin, Bimbo, a baker who has recently been made redundant and his unemployed friend Larry decide to start a fast food business from a dilapidated van. They begin the arduous process of cleaning the van and learning to make battered fish, chips and burgers with the aim of launching their business in time for the football World Cup in June 1990. The business flourishes, but their friendship deteriorates, with Bimbo feeling that Larry doesn’t take the work seriously enough and Larry resenting Bimbo’s wife Maggie’s interference in the business.

Genre:
Comedy

Subjects:
Fast food, Small businesses, Unemployment, Friendships, Family life, World Cup 1990
Releases
Date: 29 November 1996Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Colour - Technicolor - Sound - DolbyAspect ratio: 1.85:1Runtime: 99 mins 41 secs - Length: 8971 FeetDialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: 20th Century Fox International (UK)
Date: 29 November 1996Country: IrelandRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Colour - Technicolor - Sound - DolbyAspect ratio: 1.85:1Runtime: 99 mins Dialogue (original): English

Credits (107)
©: A Deadly Films Production, Production Company: Deadly Films, In association with: Beacon Pictures, Developed with the help of: European Script Fund, Presents: Fox Searchlight Pictures, [Presented] in association with: BBC Films, Executive Producer: Mark Shivas, Produced by: Lynda Myles, Co-producer: Roddy Doyle, Line Producer: Mary Alleguen, Production Co-ordinator: Fran Byrne, Production Accountant: Donal Geraghty, Assistant Accountant: Sally Ann Gately, Unit Manager: John McDonnell, Location Manager: John McDonnell, Assistant Location Manager: Andrew Hegarty, Assistant Location Manager: Liam Grant, Post-production Supervisor: Stephen Barker, Production Secretary: Bernadette Lovett, 1st Assistant Director: Martin O'Malley, 2nd Assistant Director: Marian Barlow, 3rd Assistant Director: Willie Smith, Trainee Assistant Director: Miriam Coleman, Script Supervisor: Penny Eyles, Casting by: Leo Davis, Casting Assistant: Pippa Hall, Screenplay by: Roddy Doyle, Based on the novel by: Roddy Doyle, Director of Photography: Oliver Stapleton, Camera Operator: Rodrigo Gutierrez, Camera Operator: Michael Proudfoot, Focus Puller: Ivan Meagher, Clapper Loader: Conor Kelly, Gaffer: Larry Prinz, Best Boy: Jim Farrell, Electrician: Graham Haughton, Electrician: Stephen McCarthy, Electrician: Séan Cahill, Genny Driver: Kevin Scott, Martin Holland, Grip: John Etherington, Grip: Allan Hughes, Stills Photographer: Jonathan Hession, Special Effects Technician: Graham Bushe, Editor: Mick Audsley, 1st Assistant Editor: Mary Casey, 2nd Assistant Editor: Celia Haining, Lightworks Assistant: Nigel Barker, Editing Ireland: Windmill Lane Studios, Post-production Facilities UK: De Lane Lea Sound Centre, Production Designer: Mark Geraghty, Art Director: Fiona Daly, Assistant Art Director: Clodagh Conroy, Draughtsman: Conor Devlin, Props Buyer: Sunny Mulligan, Props Master: Eamon O'Higgins, Dressing Props: Turlo Nicholson, Dressing Props: Dave Peters, Chargehand Standby Props: Nuala McKernan, Standby Props: Daragh Lewis, Construction Manager: Russ Bailey, Costume Designer: Consolata Boyle, Wardrobe Supervisor: Rhona McGuirke, Wardrobe Assistant: Anne O'Halloran, Allison Byrne, Chief Make-up Artist: Morna Ferguson, Assistant Make-up: Jennifer Hegarty, Chief Hairdresser: Anne Dunne, Assistant Hairdresser: Martina McCarthy, Titles Designed by: Julian Rothenstein, Titles: Frameline, Titles: Cine Image Film Opticals Ltd, Opticals: Frameline, Opticals: Cine Image Film Opticals Ltd, Film Stock: Fuji Film, Colour by: Technicolor Limited, Original Music by: Eric Clapton, Richard Hartley, [Music] Performed by: Eric Clapton, Eric Clapton's Band (Bass): Dave Bronze, Eric Clapton's Band (Drums): Steve Gadd, Eric Clapton's Band (Piano/Organ): Chris Stainton, Eric Clapton's Band (Guitar): Andy Fairweather-Low, Eric Clapton's Band (Harmonica): Jerry Portnoy, Eric Clapton's Band (Guitar Technician): Lee Dickson, Eric Clapton's Band (Drum Technician): Ravi Sharman, Music Recorded by: Alan Douglas, Music Recorded at: Olympic Studios, [Production] Sound Mixer: Brendan Deasy, Trevor O'Connor, Boom Operator: Eddie Quinn, Boom Operator: Barry O'Sullivan, Re-recording Mixer: Peter Maxwell, Re-recording Mixer: Mick Boggis, Supervising Sound Editor: Peter Joly, Digital Sound Editor: Jennie Evans, Dialogue Editor: Danny Longhurst, Foley Editor: Gordon Brown, Stunt Co-ordinator: Patrick Condren, Lawyer: Billy Hinshelwood, Unit Publicist: Corbett & Keene, Camera Equipment: Sammy's, Lighting Equipment: Cine Electric, Grip Equipment: Grip House, Completion Guarantors: Film Finances, With special thanks to: Chris Auty
Cast (42)
Colm Meaney (Larry), Donal O'Kelly (Brendan Reeves, 'Bimbo'), Ger Ryan (Maggie Reeves), Caroline Rothwell (Mary), Neilí Conroy (Diane), Ruaidhrí Conroy (Kevin), Brendan O'Carroll (Weslie), Stuart Dunne (Sam), Jack Lynch (Cancer), Laurie Morton (Maggie's mum), Marie Mullen (Vera), Jon Kenny (Gerry McCarthy), Moses Rowen (Glenn Reeves), Linda Mcgovern (Jessica), Eoin Chaney (Wayne Reeves), Frank O'Sullivan (Wally), Jill Doyle (Mona), Barbara Bergin (Dawn), Charlotte Bradley (Anne Marie), Ronan Wilmot (bald man), Stanley Townsend (Des, health inspector), Sheila Flitton (Missis Twix), Alan King (mechanic), Bernie Downes (pregnant woman), Martin Dunne (Garda sergeant), Tommy O'Neill (nightclub barman), Eilish Moore (bingo woman), Paul Raynor (pitch & putt man), Eileen Walsh (crushed girl), Sandra Bagnall (complaining woman), Fionnuala Murphy (young woman), Michael O'Reilly (Arsenal supporter), David Kelly (boy with choc ice), Lee Bagnall (crying boy), Jamie Bagnall (other kid), David Byrne (Barry), Gavin Kelty (World Peace), Claude Clancy (Leo the barman), Michelle Gallagher (girl), Arthur Napper (nightclub bouncer), Jessie O'Gorman (Kerrie), Mark Dunne (boy)