I saw this one accidentally in the morning in tv. it was ok to watch at breakfast, i thought first. the film didn´t seem to have a goal, it just went on, with nothing really happening, just "real-life". but it somehow got me, and i went on watching. the story was as aimless as danny´s search, but it had its magic moments. i bought the soundtrack today (it was reduced!) and i like it, because it is as calm as the whole film. 7/10
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Lurchi28 April 2000
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trininisa15 November 2003I initially saw this movie b/c I am a Jonathan Rhys-Meyers fan and had not seen the film. The start of the film was a tad slow for my tastes, but as it got on, I got more into it. When Finbar actually disappears (preluded with very smart, energetic gut acting by Rhys-Meyers) and Danny decides to look for him, I really started paying attention. It was an interesting trip. The music was great, the scenery shots were gorgeous, and I thought Danny was doing good detective work. There is an element of humor in the film that really got me. I wasn't expecting it, but it was there, though subtle.
Griffin does a fine job as Danny. He is understated and very likable. Rhys-Meyers' Finbar is very interesting. He is a mysterious figure that we never get the real deal on. We get a look here and there of real emotion and feeling, but I don't know Finbar. The energy Jonathan gave the role was a little unexpected (I expected him to be more subdued), but it was a perfect foil for Danny.
All in all, I thought it was a good film, worth the time to see. -
A movie said to be Irish-English-Swedish was enough to make me watch it when it was on TV, but I must say I'm disappointed. The movie starts out in Ireland, Finbar disappears, then half the movie goes by, and then suddenly Finbar decides to phone up his old friend Danny, telling him he's in Sweden. If the movie was half-interesting and believable in the beginning, after Danny goes to Sweden, it becomes decreasingly interesting and believable.
The scenery is really nice (even though I personally can't stand being in the north of Sweden because of all the snow and the freezing cold), but lovely nature pictures of it doesn't make up for the complete lack of anything resembling a proper plot. It's far too weak! Why did Danny go all that way and through all that trouble to search for Finbar, when Finbar was a completely selfish prat who no one in their right mind could really care about (let alone the movie audience!) - which we learn from the first 5 minutes of the film? The story's so full of plot holes it could compete with a Swiss cheese!
The only good thing about it, apart from the scenery pictures, is the Irish accent, and a chance to recognise some people who were in "Michael Collins", plus Lorraine Pilkington ("Monarch of the Glen"). That's about it. Sure, you can watch this movie if you've got nothing better to do, but you'd be better off watching something else. -
finbar6 July 2000Dealing with the search for friendship, love, freedom and your own identity, this is surely the best film I know. Music, landscape and the characters build an unique atmosphere, that is mystic in a way, but most of all an expression of a longing and seeking mood. A film to find yourself! Or as Sue Clayton says, it is a film about the wanderer of Irish Legend and his chronist. And surely everyone is invited to share this wandering.
Did he jump or did he fall? -
PFJ17 August 1999Many Irish films have failed because they try to be too commercial - The Courier (attempt at an Irish gangster film), I Went Down (attempt at an Irish Tarantino), the list is elsewhere. The makers of Finbar have obviously learned a lesson from this, and have made a film that is totally un-commercial. The settings are boring (nondescript Dublin housing estate, Sweden). The acting is execrable. The plot is feeble.
The main character is trying to find Finbar (after a lot of tiresome teenage angst), but the scintilla of suspense that this search might have evoked is spoiled by the fact that Finbar is an obnoxious bore, and not worth finding. In short, too much Finbar, not enough disappearance. -
Malc-323 December 1999Bizarre, beautiful and quite unique; The Disappearance of Finbar is a difficult film to classify, starting out as a straightforward tale of teenage friendship turned to rivalry, transforming suddenly into a slow-burning, quiet but frequently wonderful oddyssey as Danny sets off on his trek through Sweden's stunning snowfields in search of the long-lost Finbar. Rhys-Myers is an unpredictable ball of energy while maintaining just enough of an air of mystery and distance, contrasting with Griffin's subtle Danny. The landscapes are to die for, the music grows on you and the film has a lingering, haunting quality. A little seen gem, this is the kind of movie that'll be adored and detested in equal proportion. 8/10
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ahtemple23 December 1999this film was great, i saw it on television and can only imagine how wonderful the beautiful northern swedish scenery must have looked, and interesting tale of how people aren't really that different after all, and how you've got to get away from your normal surroundings and go out into the world and find yourself. top stuff
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A real oddity, this mixed bag of a film. The early establishing scenes are so ineptly handled, and so protracted, yet the film suddenly springs into life in the second half, when we get across to Finland. Here we have some stunning scenery and an interesting look at a part of the world that doesn't often appear on the cinema screen. Even here it falters occasionally, in that the main story is all but forgotten in what amounts to little more than a quirky travelogue. If the opening half had been a little more engaging, then the ensuing developments would have had far more power. As it stands, we are left with a film not devoid of charm. The humorous moments seem a little forced and not always successful, and the overall impression is of the amateurishness of the entire enterprise. Shame, because there was a lot of scope here.
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domjc1315 December 2005This film is not completely about simple narrative - it is about a young mans exploration - both physical and mental. I have met Sue Clayton (director + co-writer) and the amount of love and care she put into this film is unrivalled - it is in effect autobiography, drawing on her own experiences of living in a poor working class community in the North East and feeling trapped. The reasons for the change of setting to Dublin are very simple. She is not egotistical enough to make the film specifically about her, the story is hence a lot more easy to relate to, and the characters easier to identify with.
In my opinion, one aspect of the film did annoy me somewhat. I feel that Clayton spent too much time dwelling on character exploration and development in the scenes in Dublin - there was some rather unnecessary interchanges with the detective that could have been left out. -
fearhaven23 December 1999This is a movie of two halves,first half in Ireland and the second half in sweden, which implies the purpose of the film is two-fold. Firstly it could be seen as a comparison between two cultures.A study in human nature.It shows that although the customs are different(clothes,music taste,food and so on) the basic human emotions are the same non-the-less. Secondly the film deals with these feelings.It portrays both sides of the coin.It shows how these emotions could be manipulated and turned into an item of fascination for other people(pop video...) and how also they could transcend borders,cultures,shackles imposed by society and so on to create something beautiful(friendship of Danny and Finbar, relationship of Abbi and Danny...). On the sideline it also suggests to you to go out and discover the world, ENJOY THE SNOW AND FRESH AIR!
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Monkey Bastard1 April 2000Irishmen drink booze, curse and play football, the Swedes drink moonshine, dance tango and take care of reindeer. Welcome to Prejudice County.
Sue Clayton film is nothing but a big messy pile of crap. It tries so hard to do something different, but fails to do anything at all. Weird occurrences and odd characters with a snowy Swedish backdrop are supposed to create some sort of surreal mood, but Clayton can't even pull that off. All we get an incoherent story about an Irish guy who runs off to Sweden. It would be nice if they put something worth the time and money into the film.
The movie had no meaning, no story, no interesting elements. For your own safety, and your kids', avoid this repugnant piece of bullpoo. -
ksf-21 May 2022Minor spoilers -- irish lad finbar (jonathan meyers) is fed up with school, fed up with his parents, fed up with the town. So, like the title says, he disappears. A lot of time spent watching how hard it's been on his best friend danny (luke griffin). And how far danny has traveled to find finbar. In the north of sweden. At a place called the finn bar. It's an adventure. It's a tale. I liked it, but i wish they had filled in some gaps. Many things are left unsaid. I wish the writer or director had given us hints on where danny ended up. Interpretation is left to the viewer. Directed by sue clayton. Story by carl lombard.
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Gregor3322 February 1999The central character (Finbar), plus the theme, about people who disappear, is very original. Though the storyline is odd, nothing seems to be fantastical or out of place. The parts when
Finbar's friend travels look like a Lonely Planet episode without dialogue. This movie will linger in anyone's mind even if they find it a little boring. Specially after hearing the closing narration. I won't say what the message is . You have to see the movie.