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Cal

Play trailer Poster for Cal R,  1984,  1h 44m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 92% 13 Reviews Tomatometer 76% 100+ Ratings Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Fraught with guilt about his involvement in the murder of a Protestant police officer, Irish Republican Army member Cal (John Lynch) eschews violence and longs to defect from the organization. He meets Marcella (Helen Mirren), the widow of the slain officer, at the local library and is instantly drawn to her. Their mutual feelings of confusion and distress bring them together, but their relationship faces obstacles. Cal must hide his secret from Marcella, while also dodging the police.
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Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher The Times (UK) Jun 13, 2025
4/5
The touchstones include White Heat, Laura and The Driver, and the director Pat O’Connor embraces noir style, setting most of the key scenes in creepy night-time exteriors or shadow-drenched interiors. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian Jun 13, 2025
5/5
Mirren and Lynch’s love scene is a model for how to show sex in a grownup, candid, non-exploitative way; this was a career highlight for Mirren and an outstanding debut for the young Lynch. Go to Full Review
Time Out Feb 9, 2006
The symbolism is thrashed just a little hard at times, but on the whole it's a most impressive debut from O'Connor, strongly acted all round. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Jan 26, 2006
B
Has its powerful moments. Go to Full Review
Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Oct 8, 2005
3/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jun 29, 2005
3/5
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Cal

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Cast & Crew

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Pat O'Connor

Director

Helen Mirren

Marcella

John Lynch

Cal

Donal McCann

Shamie

John Kavanagh

Skeffington

Ray McAnally

Cyril Dunlop

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Cal

Cal (1984) Cal (1984) Cal (1984) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Fraught with guilt about his involvement in the murder of a Protestant police officer, Irish Republican Army member Cal (John Lynch) eschews violence and longs to defect from the organization. He meets Marcella (Helen Mirren), the widow of the slain officer, at the local library and is instantly drawn to her. Their mutual feelings of confusion and distress bring them together, but their relationship faces obstacles. Cal must hide his secret from Marcella, while also dodging the police.
Director
Pat O'Connor
Producer
Stuart Craig, David Puttnam
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 14, 2017
Runtime
1h 44m
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