In this adaptation of the James Joyce short story, which takes place at an annual New Years Eve party in Dublin in 1904, Gretta Conroy, after hearing an old and sad ballad sung by one of the guests, confesses to her husband Gabriel of a long ago love affair she still remembers. This revelation causes Gabriel to question matters of life and death... and moves him to lament the lack of such passion in his own life.

The Dead was nominated for two Oscars following its release in 1987 - Best Screenplay based on material by another author and Best Costume Design for its eloquent depiction of Dublin in 1904.