Irish Film Series at Egyptian Theatre
Wednesday, March 13 2002
7:30 p.m. Irish Shorts and Animation Programme
The programme will include Give Up Yer Aul Sins, directed by Cathal Gaffney and Fifty Percent Grey, directed by Ruairi Robinson, which account for two of the five nominees in the Best Animated Short category of the Academy Awards.
Friday, March 15 2002
9:30 p.m. If I Should Fall From Grace (Directed by Sarah Share) and Teenage Kicks (Directed by Tom Collins)
In If I Should Fall From Grace, a moving, highly personal documentary portrait of a rock icon, Shane MacGowan tells of his early problems with drink and drugs and his subsequent breakdown, his discovery of punk and the voice he found through music. The film includes interviews with Nick Cave and MacGowan's parents as well as concert footage of the Pogues. Teenage Kicks documents the punk pop band The Undertones, which exploded onto the music scene in the late 1970's at a time when the Northern Irish town of Derry was better known for 'The Troubles' and unemployment than it was for its musical progeny.
Saturday, March 16 2002
5:00 p.m. Nora (Directed by Pat Murphy)
Ewan McGregor stars as famed Irish writer James Joyce in this tale of his tempestuous marriage to Nora Joyce. McGregor delivers a soul- and flesh-baring performance in this beautifully atmospheric and sexual portrait of their stormy relationship.
7:00 p.m. How Harry Became A Tree (Directed by Goran Paskaljevic)
Colm Meany, Cillian Murphy, and Adrian Dunbar star in this comic tale set in Ireland of 1924. The Civil War may be over but things are never far off the boil in the world of Harry Maloney (Meany). He has a long list of grievances and a unique way of looking at the world. Harry believes in hate and the object of his hate is George O'Flaherty (Dunbar), the richest man in town, owner of the local pub and all-round success story. As Harry observes, "You need to have a strong enemy. Otherwise it's too easy to destroy him."
9:30 p.m. H3 (Directed by Les Blair)
Director Les Blair sets his brutal drama in H3, one of the bleakest H-Blocks of Northern Ireland's Maze prison. This fictional depiction of the 1981 hunger strike by prisoners was co-written by Laurence McKeown, who took part in the original protest. The hunger strikers' struggle is chronicled with dignity, comradeship and, surprisingly, with a sense of humour. Brendan Mackey, Aidan Campbell, Kevin Elliot, Dean Lennox Kelly, and Tony Devlin star.
Sunday, March 17 2002
5:00 p.m. Traveller (Directed by John T. Davis and Alen MacWeeney)
In 1965, photographer Alen MacWeeney embarked on a two-year project of photographing and recording the travelers of Dublin and Galway.
7:00 p.m. Disco Pigs (Directed by Kirsten Sheridan)
Pig is the King and Runt the Queen of the magical Pork City. Born on the same day and living next to each other has made them the best of friends, but on the eve of their 17th birthdays, their love stumbles towards a crisis. Starring Cillian Murphy and Elaine Cassidy.
Wednesday, March 20 2002
7.30 p.m. On the Nose (Directed by David Caffrey)
A witty comedy about Delaney (Robbie Coltrane), a gambling-obsessed custodian and a 200 year-old Aboriginal head with an amazing gift for picking winners! Co-starring Dan Aykroyd and Brenda Blethyn.