The Commitments

A major hit in Ireland and around the world, the film depicts the short-lived attempts of an ensemble of young working-class Dubliners to achieve success as a soul covers band, playing the hits of Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and others, on a mission to 'bring soul back to Dublin'. Drawing upon interviews with key figures involved in the film and its music, including Roddy Doyle, Angeline Ball, and Bronagh Gallagher, as well as archival research of director Alan Parker's papers, the book explores questions of authenticity associated with youth, music, class, and culture, and assesses the film's legacy for the Irish film industry, Irish music scenes, and Irish youth. It also examines the film's status as a truly transnational production.
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