War of the Buttons

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War of the Buttons ★★½ 1995 (PG)

Two sleepy Irish fishing villages provide childish battle grounds for two groups of local lads. The Ballys (Bally-dowse village), lead by Fergus (Fitzgerald), and the Carricks (Carrickdowse), with leader Geronimo (Coffey), have an intense rivalry and capture by the other gang leads to the removal of every clothing button for the unfortunate captive. When Fergus becomes a Carrick victim, he organizes a retaliatory strike, and emotions threaten to overwhelm all concerned. Based on the French novel “La Guerre des Boutons” by Louis Pergaud. Filmed on location in West Cork, Ireland. 94m/C VHS . Gregg Fitzgerald, John Coffey, Liam Cunningham, Paul Batt, Eveanna Ryan, Colm Meaney, Johnny Murphy; D: John Roberts; W: Colin Welland; C: Bruno de Keyzer; M: Rachel Portman.