Award-winning debut feature from Darren Thornton A DATE FOR MAD MARY hits cinemas today
Having gone down a storm with audiences at Galway Film Fleadh, where it was the joint winner of Best Irish Feature, A Date for Mad Mary is now out in Irish cinemas. Following a premiere at Karlovy Vary, the film was yesterday announced for the BFI London Film Festival which takes place next month.
The film has been applauded by critics, in particular for the standout performance from Seána Kerslake. The film also stars Tara Lee and Charleigh Bailey. A Date for Mad Mary is Darren Thornton's directorial debut, produced by Juliette Bonass for Element Pictures.
‘Mad' Mary McArdle returns to Drogheda after a short spell in prison - for something she'd rather forget. Back home, everything and everyone has changed. Her best friend, Charlene, is about to get married and Mary is maid of honour. When Charlene refuses Mary a ‘plus one' on the grounds that she probably couldn't find a date, Mary becomes determined to prove her wrong. But her attempts at dating are a disaster and she winds up feeling more alone... until she meets Jess and everything changes. A Date for Mad Mary is a tough and tender story about friendship, first love, and letting go of the glory days.
A Date for Mad Mary was produced with support from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board.
What the critics have said:
★★★★ ‘trimphant'
- Irish Times
'refreshingly affecting yet sparklingly funny'
- RTÉ
'instantly lovable'
- Variety
'Seána Kerslake: the hottest new name in Irish cinema'
- Irish Times