Evening Class
Encyclopedia
Evening Class is a novel by Maeve Binchy
. It was adapted as the award-winning film Italian for Beginners
(2000) by writer-director Lone Scherfig
, who failed to formally acknowledge the source, although at the very end of the closing credits is the line 'with thanks to Maeve Binchy'.
men and women from various backgrounds and how a teacher, Nora O'Donoghue (known as "Signora"), and an Italian evening class changes their lives over the course of a year. Each chapter deals with the life story of one or more students in the class. In a Dickensian way, they bump into each other and are affected by the decisions of those around them.
, another novel by Maeve Binchy
, and play a more significant role in Heart and Soul
.
(2000), which won a Silver Berlin Bear
and several other major international awards. Maeve Binchy was not paid, credited nor informed of this, but was later paid an undisclosed sum, when her publisher contacted the producers of the movie, Lars von Trier
's company Zentropa
. Although the film's writer-director Lone Scherfig
had told the press that the film was based on her idea, executive producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen
later admitted that she had made him aware of the similarities but that he had simply decided not to pay the original author.
Maeve Binchy
Maeve Binchy is an Irish novelist, newspaper columnist and speaker. Educated at University College Dublin, she worked as a teacher then a journalist at The Irish Times and later became a writer of novels and short stories.Many of her novels are set in Ireland, dealing with the tensions between...
. It was adapted as the award-winning film Italian for Beginners
Italian for Beginners
Italian for Beginners is a 2000 Danish romantic comedy film written and directed by Lone Scherfig. The film stars Anders W. Berthelsen, Lars Kaalund and Peter Gantzler. The film was made by the austere principles of the Dogme 95 movement, including the use of hand held video cameras and natural...
(2000) by writer-director Lone Scherfig
Lone Scherfig
Lone Scherfig is a Danish film director. She graduated in 1984, and began her career as a director with "A Birthday Trip". She is part of the Dogme 95 film movement, which espouses a form of cinéma vérité She made her mark with the Dogme95-film, Italian for Beginners , a romantic comedy which...
, who failed to formally acknowledge the source, although at the very end of the closing credits is the line 'with thanks to Maeve Binchy'.
Plot introduction
A story of many IrishIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
men and women from various backgrounds and how a teacher, Nora O'Donoghue (known as "Signora"), and an Italian evening class changes their lives over the course of a year. Each chapter deals with the life story of one or more students in the class. In a Dickensian way, they bump into each other and are affected by the decisions of those around them.
Major themes
It is a story of love and deceit, family drama, wealth and poverty, of friendship and courage.Related
Nora O'Donoghue and Aidan Dunne also appear in QuentinsQuentins
Quentins is a 2002 novel by Irish author Maeve Binchy.-Plot introduction:Ella Brady, a young science teacher, falls in love with a successful businessman who is married but tells her that his marriage was "dead". For some time she is happy with the torrid affair, and manages to overlook some...
, another novel by Maeve Binchy
Maeve Binchy
Maeve Binchy is an Irish novelist, newspaper columnist and speaker. Educated at University College Dublin, she worked as a teacher then a journalist at The Irish Times and later became a writer of novels and short stories.Many of her novels are set in Ireland, dealing with the tensions between...
, and play a more significant role in Heart and Soul
Heart and Soul (novel)
Heart and Soul is a 2008 novel by Irish novelist Maeve Binchy, about a heart clinic in Dublin and the people involved with it. Several characters from Binchy's previous novels, including Evening Class and Quentins, make appearances....
.
Film adaptation
The novel heavily inspired the plot of the Danish feature film Italian for BeginnersItalian for Beginners
Italian for Beginners is a 2000 Danish romantic comedy film written and directed by Lone Scherfig. The film stars Anders W. Berthelsen, Lars Kaalund and Peter Gantzler. The film was made by the austere principles of the Dogme 95 movement, including the use of hand held video cameras and natural...
(2000), which won a Silver Berlin Bear
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
and several other major international awards. Maeve Binchy was not paid, credited nor informed of this, but was later paid an undisclosed sum, when her publisher contacted the producers of the movie, Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier is a Danish film director and screenwriter. He is closely associated with the Dogme 95 collective, although his own films have taken a variety of different approaches, and have frequently received strongly divided critical opinion....
's company Zentropa
Zentropa
Europa is a film directed by Lars von Trier. Released in 1991, it is von Trier's third theatrical feature film and is the final film in the Europa trilogy....
. Although the film's writer-director Lone Scherfig
Lone Scherfig
Lone Scherfig is a Danish film director. She graduated in 1984, and began her career as a director with "A Birthday Trip". She is part of the Dogme 95 film movement, which espouses a form of cinéma vérité She made her mark with the Dogme95-film, Italian for Beginners , a romantic comedy which...
had told the press that the film was based on her idea, executive producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen
Peter Aalbæk Jensen
Peter Aalbæk Jensen is a Danish film producer who in 1992 with director Lars von Trier founded the Danish film company Zentropa and later its huge studio complex Filmbyen....
later admitted that she had made him aware of the similarities but that he had simply decided not to pay the original author.