''Ascendancy'' is a 1983 British

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by Edward Bennett and starring

Julie Covington Julie Covington (born 11 September 1946) is an English singer and actress, best known for recording the original version of " Don't Cry for Me Argentina", which she sang on the 1976 concept album '' Evita''. Early life Julie Covington was born ...

and

Ian Charleson Ian Charleson (11 August 1949 – 6 January 1990) was a Scottish stage and film actor. He is best known internationally for his starring role as Olympic athlete and missionary Eric Liddell in the Academy Award, Oscar-winning 1981 film ''Chariots ...

. It tells the story of a woman who is a member of the British landowning ' Ascendancy' in Ireland during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Gradually, she learns about the Irish independence movement, and becomes involved with it.

Cast

as Connie Wintour *

as Lt. Ryder * John Phillips as Wintour *

Susan Engel Susan Engel (born 25 March 1935) is a British actress. She was born in Vienna, Austria. Career Theatre Engel's work in theatre includes: ''Angels in America'' (1992), ''Richard III (play), Richard III'', ''King Lear'' (1990), ''The Good Perso ...

as Nurse *

Philip Locke Roy James "Philip" Locke (29 March 192819 April 2004) was an English actor who had roles in film and television. He is perhaps best known for his part in the James Bond film '' Thunderball'' as Largo's personal assistant and chief henchman, Var ...

as Dr Strickland *Kieran Montague as Dr Kelson *

Rynagh O'Grady Rynagh O'Grady (18 April 1951 – 8 February 2021) was an Irish actress who was known for her roles of Mary O'Leary in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Father Ted'' and Minnie Kennedy in the 1999 film ''A Love Divided''. She trained in the Abbey Theatre ...

as Rose *

Philomena McDonagh Philomena McDonagh (also known as Phylomena McDonagh) is an English actress and writer best known for her roles as art teacher June Summers in ''Grange Hill'' and Carol Nelson in ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. McDonagh acted in Phil Young's pl ...

as Mary *Michael McKnight as Vesey *

Jeremy Sinden Jeremy Mahony Sinden (14 June 1950 – 29 May 1996) was an English actor who specialised in playing eccentric military men and overgrown schoolboys.Times Obituary 31 May 1996 Early life Sinden was born on 14 June 1950 in London into a th ...

as Darcy *

Shay Gorman Séamus "Shay" Gorman (18 April 1923 – 19 April 1999) was an Irish actor from Dublin who largely appeared in British films and television programmes. One example of which was his 1960 ''Danger Man'' appearance in the television series episode ...

as Keir

Awards

The film was entered into the

33rd Berlin International Film Festival The 33rd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 18 February to 1 March 1983. The festival opened with the out of competition film ''Tootsie'', by Sydney Pollack. The Golden Bear was jointly awarded to ''Ascendancy (film), Ascen ...

where it won the

Golden Bear The Golden Bear () is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival and is, along with the Palme d'Or and the Golden Lion, the most important international film festival award. The bear is the heraldic an ...

References

External links

* * 1983 films British drama films 1980s English-language films 1983 drama films Golden Bear winners Films directed by Edward Bennett 1980s British films {{1980s-UK-film-stub