The Van
“A comedy about friends, family and fish.”
Synopsis
In a working-class quarter of Dublin, 'Bimbo' Reeves gets laid off from his job and, with his redundancy payout, buys a van and sells fish and chips with his buddy, Larry. Due to Ireland's surprising success at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, their business starts off well, but the relationship between the two friends soon becomes strained as Bimbo behaves more like a typical boss.
Part of the The Barrytown Trilogy
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Top Cast
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Colm Meaney
Larry
Donal O'Kelly
'Bimbo'
Ger Ryan
Maggie
Caroline Rothwell
Mary
Neilí Conroy
Diane
Rúaidhrí Conroy
Kevin
Brendan O'Carroll
Weslie
Stuart Dunne
Sam
Jack Lynch
Cancer
Laurie Morton
Maggie's Mum
Marie Mullen
Vera
Jon Kenny
Gerry McCarthy
Moses Rowen
Glenn
Linda McGovern
Jessica
Frank O'Sullivan
Wally
Eoin Chaney
Wayne
Jill Doyle
Mona
Barbara Bergin
Dawn
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
May 16, 1997
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 28, 1998
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$712K
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Stephen Frears
- Screenplay & Story
- Roddy Doyle
- Original Score
- Richard Hartley, Eric Clapton
- Original Title
- The Van
- Country of Origin
- Ireland, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Worldwide Gross
- $712K
- Production Studios
- Fox Searchlight Pictures, BBC Film, Deadly Films, Beacon Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Stephen Frears
Roddy Doyle
Richard Hartley, Eric Clapton
Oliver Stapleton
Mick Audsley
Lynda Myles, Mark Shivas
Department Leadership Roster
Stephen Frears
Director
Oliver Stapleton
Director of Photography
Lynda Myles
Producer
Mick Audsley
Editor
Richard Hartley
Original Music Composer
Roddy Doyle
Screenplay
Eric Clapton
Original Music Composer
Patrick Condren
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Van.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Van
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Van about?
In a working-class quarter of Dublin, 'Bimbo' Reeves gets laid off from his job and, with his redundancy payout, buys a van and sells fish and chips with his buddy, Larry. Due to Ireland's surprising success at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, their business starts off well, but the relationship between the two friends soon becomes strained as Bimbo behaves more like a typical boss.
Who directed The Van?
The Van was directed by Stephen Frears.
Who stars in The Van?
The principal cast of The Van includes Colm Meaney, Donal O'Kelly, Ger Ryan, Caroline Rothwell, Neilí Conroy.
When was The Van released and how long is it?
The Van was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 1h 40m.
How much did The Van make at the box office?
The Van grossed $712K in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for The Van?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Van was composed by Richard Hartley, Eric Clapton.
Is The Van based on a book or true story?
The Van is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Roddy Doyle".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Van?
The Van holds official age classifications: GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).