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movie review - Waking Ned Devine

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 1999.12.15

A pretty little farce about a small village in Ireland, pop. 50. The townspeople learn that one of their number has won the lottery, and a scheme is hatched to bilk the lottery corporation of their winnings when they discover that the winner has died before making the claim.

It's got the pre-requisite love story, the pre-requisite local scumbag who wants more than her share, etc. But it's a little slow, and misses its own point at the 2/3rds mark. Not an excellent film, but worth watching on a slow evening. It finds a tone and meets its unambitious goals.

Recommended.

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