Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Romantic thriller

Cal (1984): Cast, Box Office & Plot

Cal (1984) movie poster

Cal is a 1984 romantic thriller directed by Pat O'Connor, starring John Lynch as Cal, Helen Mirren and John Kavanagh. It is based on Cal by Bernard MacLaverty. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $7,342 worldwide.

Loading streaming availability…
Cal (1984) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Director
Pat O'Connor
Genres
Romance , Drama , Thriller
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Cal About?

The premise of Cal without spoilers, adapted from Cal by Bernard MacLaverty. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Cal, a young man on the fringes of the IRA, falls in love with Marcella, a Catholic woman whose husband, a Protestant policeman, was killed one year earlier by the IRA.

Cal Themes & Keywords

· 27 tags
  • female pubic hair
  • female full frontal nudity
  • female frontal nudity
  • screenplay adapted by author
  • younger man older woman relationship
  • male rear nudity
  • female rear nudity
  • female nudity
  • female topless nudity
  • pubic hair
  • woman
  • love
+15 more
  • young
  • man
  • ireland
  • police officer killed
  • irish republican army
  • guilt
  • terrorist
  • northern ireland
  • guerrilla warfare
  • murder
  • flashback
  • terrorism
  • librarian
  • library
  • based on novel
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Cal Cast & Characters

John Lynch leads the cast as Cal, with Helen Mirren as Marcella and John Kavanagh as Skeffington. Directed by Pat O'Connor; 22 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Cal

· 18 more
Show all 22 cast members
From the director

More from Pat O'Connor

More films directed by Pat O'Connor, best-rated first: Circle of Friends, Private Peaceful, Sweet November and The January Man.

Full filmography
Plot

Cal Plot Summary

What happens in Cal from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Cal is a young member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) in 1970s Northern Ireland, serving as a nighttime driver for a mission that ends in the murder of a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer at the victim’s home, with the officer’s father present and shot. One year later, Cal learns that the librarian, Marcella, Helen Mirren, is Catholic and the widow of the victim. Cal longs to leave the IRA, but the group pressures him to stay, tying his fate to a web of loyalty and fear.

Full summary

The whole story of Cal, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Cal Box Office

Cal grossed $7,342 worldwide.

1984 box office

Worldwide gross

$7.3K

International
$7.3K
Videos

Cal Videos

The clip of Cal.

Cal (1984) - trailer Cinemax
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Cal?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which organisation is Cal a young member of at the start of the film?

Cars

Cars in Cal

25 cars on screen, including the 1975 Bedford TK and the 1977 Ford Cortina MkIV.

All 25 cars
  • 1975 Bedford TK in Cal 1975 Bedford TK Important role
  • 1977 Ford Cortina MkIV in Cal 1977 Ford Cortina MkIV Important role
  • 1977 Ford Cortina MkIV in Cal 1977 Ford Cortina MkIV Important role
  • Land-Rover 109'' Series III Hotspur in Cal Land-Rover 109'' Series III Hotspur Important role
Details

Cal Also Known As

5 alternative titles, including “칼의 고백” and “Cal - Memórias de um Terrorista”.

Also known as
  • 칼의 고백
  • Cal - Memórias de um Terrorista
  • Cal, callejón infernal
  • 恩怨情天
  • Дневник террориста

Seen Cal?

FAQ

Cal FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Cal, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Cal?

Cal runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was Cal released?

Cal was released on May 15, 1984.

Who directed Cal?

Cal was directed by Pat O'Connor.

More films by Pat O'Connor

Who is in the cast of Cal?

Cal stars John Lynch as Cal, Helen Mirren as Marcella and John Kavanagh as Skeffington, among 22 credited actors.

How much did Cal make at the box office?

Cal grossed $7,342 worldwide.

Is Cal based on a book?

Yes. Cal is adapted from Cal by Bernard MacLaverty.

Does Cal have a post-credit scene?

No. Cal has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app