PURSUIT selected for the Shanghai International Film Festival
Irish thriller Pursuit, based on the Irish folk legend ‘The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne', has been selected for competition in Jackie Chan Action Movie Week at the 19th Shanghai International Film Festival.
All-star ensemble cast includes Ruth Bradley (Rebellion, Grabbers), Barry Ward (Jimmy's Hall, The Truth Commissioner), Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones, Let Us Prey), Brendan Gleeson (Calvary, The Guard), Owen Roe (Vikings, Intermisson) David Pearse (Grabbers, The Guard), Don Wycherley (Ondine, Bachelors Walk), Dara Devaney (An Kondike, An Bronntanas), Dónall Ó Héalaí (My Name Is Emily), Ciarán O'Brien (Ripper Street), and Emmet Kirwan (Jack Taylor).
Produced by An Pointe Productions and written and directed by Paul Mercier, Pursuit is a contemporary thriller inspired by the Irish legend ‘The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne', a tale of love, betrayal and revenge, and the desire for a life beyond crime.
Mr.King (Owen Roe), is the boss of the criminal underworld, and dreams of going legit and attaining respectability. He has kept his daughter Gráinne (Ruth Bradley) away from the street and groomed her for a career in show business. She is to be his ticket out of the ghetto, that is, until she goes into meltdown and her career falls apart. Fionn (Liam Cunningham) runs Mr.King's drug smuggling operation. Fionn has a bodyguard Diarmuid (Barry Ward), whom he saved from the street as a boy. Fionn takes care of everyone and everything. He is the people's true chief. Mr.King fears the threat and tries to have Fionn assassinated, but fails. To avoid a gang war and to meet the aggression of a common enemy, the Searbhán (Brendan Gleeson), a marriage is arranged between Fionn and Gráinne. It looks as if peace will reign in the underworld, but Gráinne has other plans.
Last year Pursuit had a successful theatrical release, playing at more than 20 cinemas nationwide, no small feat for an independent Irish film. It was subsequently released on DVD and shown on TV3.
The film will have up to 5 showings at the Shanghai Film Festival, competing as part of the Jackie Chan Action Movie Week. This strand, which was introduced for the first time last year, is aimed at commending excellent filmmakers who have made great contributions to the world's action movies by showcasing the extraordinary performances of stunt and action actors, and technical innovations in special effects.
The Shanghai International Film Festival is one of the largest film festivals in East Asia. Last year, it reached an audience of over 300,000.
The 19th Shanghai International Film Festival runs June 11th-19th.