Cumming as Sean Walsh Colin Firth as Simon Westward Geraldine O'Rawe as Eve Malone Aidan Gillen as Aidan Lynch Mick Lally as Dan Hogan Britta Smith as Mrs. Hogan Ciarán Hinds as Professor Flynn Tony Doyle as Dr. Foley Jason Barry as Nasey Mahon Differences from the novel There are several differences between the film script and the novel it is based on, the most notable being that Benny and Jack do not reunite at the end of the book. Other key differences include: In the novel only Benny and Eve are childhood friends; they do not meet Nan (who was born and grew up in Dublin) until Benny's first day of university. Several major characters from the novel do not appear in the film, notably Mother Francis (the Mother Superior who raises Eve as a daughter in the convent) and Kit Hegarty (Eve's landlady, whose son's death brings the principal characters together). Jack's switch from law to medicine does not happen in the novel. Sean Walsh remains in Knockglen and marries the owner of the local hotel in the novel, a plot not featured in the film. Benny does not confront Sean alone in the novel, and there is no scene of attempted sexual assault. Clodagh Pine and Alphonse “Fonsie” (no last name given) are niece and nephew of two Knockglen merchants whom Benny befriends in the novel, but don’t appear in the film. They are both trying to update the family businesses. Reception Circle of Friends was positively received by critics, as the film holds a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 36 reviews. References External links Circle of Friends at Shot at Trinity (database of films shot at Trinity College Dublin) 1995 films 1995 drama films English-language Irish films Irish drama films Films directed by Pat O'Connor Films based on Irish novels Films scored by Michael Kamen Savoy Pictures films Films set in Dublin (city) 1990s English-language films 1990s female buddy films