The Van (1996)

Set in the cold November of 1989 in the heart of Ireland, our tale unfolds with Bimbo, a humble baker who finds himself abruptly dismissed from his job. Teetering on the brink of uncertainty, Bimbo leans on his loyal but equally unemployed best friend, Larry. Larry, a man settled into his life of modest welfare and familial responsibilities, offers solace amidst the turmoil. However, Bimbo refuses to settle. With the unwavering support of his wife, Maggie, Bimbo purchases an engineless, abandoned van from a desolate junkyard. His objective? To breathe life into a unique venture selling hamburgers, French fries, and fried codfish. Larry, unable to resist the infectious spirit of entrepreneurship, joins Bimbo in this daring endeavor. This narrative, filled with both laughter and poignant moments, is the third gem of Irish author Roddy Doyle's 'Barrytown Trilogy', seamlessly following 'The Commitments' and 'The Snapper'. The journey of Bimbo and Larry from the bakery to the bustling business of their chipper, a mobile fish and chips van, is a testament to friendship, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams. But as their venture begins to taste the sweetness of financial success, the question looms - will the weight of newfound prosperity blur the lines of their friendship? The Van is a compelling exploration of camaraderie and ambition, a tale laced with humor and depth that is bound to leave the viewer pondering on the true price of success.

The Van is a comedy movie featuring Colm Meaney and directed by Stephen Frears.

It is possible to buy The Van on AMC on Demand, Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.