Product: Da (1988)
Rating: 5.0
"It was a long time before I realized that love turned upside down is love for all that."
DA is a thoughtful exploration of family relations as seen in nostalgic flashbacks, that was adapted from the Tony-winning 1978 play by the show's creator, Hugh Leonard. Barnard Hughes reprises his starring role as the adoptive father of expatriot writer Charlie (a surrogate for Leonard himself).Charlie (Martin Sheen) returns to County Dublin to bury "Da," a lovable but unambitious gardener who worked 47 years for the same family. While acting as pallbearer, Charlie hears his father's muffled voice coming from within the coffin. Da's typically impertinent remark causes Charlie to tell him to "shut up!" (Hugh Leonard cameos here as a pallbearer.)Thus begins a bittersweet trip through Charlie's past. In fantasies of the mind, his dead parents, beloved dog and he (as a young man) come to vivid life and re-enact long-buried memories. Events are by turn humorous, surprising, and hauntingly sad.A once-joyous friendship with gangly Oliver has grown painful, for Charlie's mate is today a failure who earns a meager living by walking Dalkey's streets clad in a signboard. Charlie's first employer, Drumm (marvelously portrayed by William Hickey) was an old man back then, yet is still alive and spry now. The scenes with Mother are particularly fine-- Doreen Hepburn truly is this character. Mother and Da love Charlie as if he were their own, this is quite clear, and despite some rough moments theirs is a solid family.The adult Charlie is well-aware even as he sits, has tea, shares drinks and reminisces with Da that the man's newly buried. As he prepares to return to New York, Charlie throws away the sundry accumulations of Da's lifetime, even as the old man's specter hovers nearby to protest with mild, yet accepting indignation. A final interaction between them is the most gripping scene of the film.This lovely story will touch the heart, especially of anyone who has lost their parents. Highest recommendation.As of 4/09, DA was not available on DVD.Related items:Barnard Hughes is small town physician Dr. Aurelius Hogue in Michael Fox's DOC HOLLYWOOD (1991). (VHS) (DVD)Martin Sheen plays father to his own son Charlie in WALL STREET (1987). (VHS) (DVD)The always fun William Hickey has a fine minor role in the Steve Martin comedy, MY BLUE HEAVEN (1991). (VHS) (DVD)Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.(6.2) Da (1988) - Barnard Hughes/Martin Sheen/William Hickey/Karl Hayden/Doreen Hepburn/Hugh O'Conor/Peter Hanly/Maurice O'Donoghue/Jill Doyle/Hugh Leonard