November 8th, 2007
Irish film: the best… and a definition?
Earlier this week someone asked me what my favourite Irish film was.
“Eh…”
But before I had a chance to rack my brain, I was asked to define what an Irish film is. If it’s made by Hollywood is it Irish? Does it have to be set here? Even if there’s one lone Irish character, does that count? What if said character just has a dodgy brogue?. And what about Hitler’s take on things? The less said about Jennifer Aniston’s contribution, the better. The Irish film industry, compared to Hollywood, is still in its infancy and it could be argued that it’s only in the last three or four decades that genuine Irish films have been made, ie ones funded here, shot here, with Irish crews, Irish actors featuring Irish themes and narratives.
And here’s yet another angle to the subject - why do no Irish films make it on to those definitive (PDF) lists? Is there no Irish Citizen Kane or are Irish films just not that good?
There are plenty of decent examples, but I’m not sure if they’d make it on to my list of favourite films. Ryan’s Daughter is a great film, but this brings us back to the original question of whether it’s an Irish film if Hollywood’s coffers paid for it. Maybe an Irish film is one that is deals with Irish themes - political, social or historical - is set here and features Irish characters. Or perhaps that’s too limiting…
Gun to my head, Irish films I really like are: Adam and Paul, My Left Foot, The Snapper, Girl With Green Eyes, Intermission, The Field, The Quiet Man (stereotypes a go-go, and good enough for Spielberg to parody in ET), Garage and The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
As I look at that list, they all seem very recent (except for The Quiet Man and Edna’s film). What I am forgetting?
Must dig out this book and see if it throws up anything.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Is it shameful to hold a tiny torch for the Commitments? it reminds me so much of growing up which is probably why I like it.
Don’t get to the cinema as much as I like but I thought Garage was sooooo sad. Liked it loads tho.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Yeah, I have a soft spot for The Commitments, too!
November 8th, 2007 at 11:18 am
I’m very fond of it too, probably for the reasons Anna mentioned. It reminds me of being a teenager in Dublin and all the teenagers who knew who wanted to join a band and be the next big thing. And everyone knew someone who was in it…
As for Roddy Doyle - even before I had a baby, I thought The Snapper was so funny (”That was A1, Shar-innn!”). Colm Meaney is brilliant as the da.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:25 am
“menstrual history? I got a c in tha in me inter”
brilliant.
Does The Dead count? That was a great adaptation.
November 8th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
“menstrual history? I got a c in tha in me inter�
Ha! I’d forgotten that one. It’s full of great one-liners.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
I liked, and still like, Into The West.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
my favourite one-liner from the snapper:
Dessie: “It’s hard to believe you could get so much shite out of one dog…”
The first time I saw it (the first time anyone saw it, maybe?) was on BBC2 I think, before it had been released in cinemas or on video, as far as I recall.
Hard to beat some of those you mentioned Sinead, but possibly the most under-appreciated Irish film of the last 10 years or so could be “I Went Down” by Paddy Breathnach.
As regards definition: funding and direction, and possibly just direction.
November 8th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
I loved I went down also - I’m just back from New York where I saw the trailer for ‘ps I love you’ - you won’t be able to contain yourself when you hear Hilary Swank’s oirish brogue…hilarious
November 8th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
[…] Nov 8th, 2007 by stuckinthesticks My mind was stimulated by this piece over at Sinead Gleeson’s blog asking for readers’ thoughts on their favourite Irish films, and - an altogether more complex question - the definition of an Irish film. […]
November 8th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
I had the option of taking a module in Irish film next semester at film school, but I chose European cinema instead.
My favourite Irish film is Garage, which I just saw recently. It’s the saddest film I ever saw, and I don’t usually have time for sad films.
November 8th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Neil Jordan’s “Butcher Boy” and “Breakfast on Pluto” are beautiful films that I’ve watched many times. Also, have you seen “Bloom” with Stephan Rea and Angeline Ball as Leopold and Molly? Love that adaptation.
November 8th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Eat the Peach!
November 8th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Far and Away!
November 8th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Brock, a sweet film it is too.
Shane, yep thumbs up for I Went Down. Didn’t Paddy Breathnach make that film about hairdressing with Alan Rickman?
That girl, I’ve seen it. My eyes and ears were bleeding.
Annie, I thought it was heart-breaking. Not just the outcome, but the friendship between the two main characters. It’s so well done.
Maebh, how could I forget Neil Jordan? The Butcher Boy is excellent, and I liked BoP, even though a few people I know didn’t. I’ve seen Bloom, but I wasn’t overfond of it, but I think that’s the problem with Joyce (with the exception of John Huston’s version of The Dead)
Teddy, surely that’s the only film about a wall of death?
November 8th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Twenty, get out, you’re barred.
November 8th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Paddy Breathnach did indeed direct Blow Dry with Alan Rickman. It was his follow-up to I Went Down but I haven’t seen it. Recommended?
While everyone I know seemed to find Man About Dog hilarious, I just found it a let-down after IWD.
I see Paddy is back later this month with the release of Shrooms, a horror film about (over to wikipedia): “a group of American backpackers and their Irish guide who are stalked by a serial killer while out in the woods looking for psychedelic mushrooms.” Hmmm….
November 8th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Never saw “Garage” or “Girl with Green Eyes”. My favourites are probably My Left Foot, the Wind that Shakes the Barley, and The Butcher Boy.
and umm… *cough* Darby O’Gill
November 9th, 2007 at 1:03 am
Totally off the cuff:
Once….LOVED IT.
The Wind that Shakes the Barley (not sure this counts as it’s by A Brit Director)….
and Veronica Guerin (again, does this count? Irish story, foreign director)
November 9th, 2007 at 9:45 am
I haven’t seen even a fraction of the films being cited here, I think I’ll have to do some serious renting of DVDs and have a bit of a season at home. I saw ‘Once’ recently and thought it was pretty promising for contemporary Irish cinema. I’ve heard that ‘Garage’ is great too.
November 9th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Adam And Paul. Nothing else even comes close.
November 9th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Have to agree with Adam and Paul, also
The Commitments.
November 9th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Hmmmm. What is there to like about The Wind that Shakes the Barley?
For me it’s The Butcher Boy. Also Dancing at Lughnasa.
November 9th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
I am quite surprised that no one seems to have suggested the recently screened “Kings” (apols if my eyes are failing me). Admittedly, a movie in Irish about middle-aged immigrants in Kilburn does not set the heart racing and, even if you do go, it is a damn depressing piece of work.
However, the fact alone that it does make a genuine emotional impact on you and can stay in your head for days afterwards puts it miles ahead of some of the suggestions here.
As grim as it was to watch, I was very impressed by it. It is a bold piece of movie-making.
November 9th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
James, Darby O’Gill is perfect rainy Saturday afternoon telly. And Sean was wearing a wig in it apparently…
Sang, I think TWTSTB definitely counts for lots of the reasons mentioned above. Veronica Guerin, hmmm, definitely better than When the Sky Falls.
Red, make a point of seeing Garage…
Roisin, Between Adam & Paul and Garage, I think Mark O’Halloran is a bit of a genius.
seomanj, are you back blogging? Be sure to send me your URL.
Paul, “What is there to like about The Wind that Shakes the Barley?”
For me? Great cast, gripping story, interesting take on history, thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought Dancing at Lughnasa was AWFUL, especially having seen the play. It’s easy to mess up those adaptations.
Jim Dubh, fair play, I didn’t mention Kings as no I know seems to have seen it! Very sad, and terribly true. Donal O’Kelly is a brilliant actor. I saw him in a one-man play in Andrew’s Lane years ago and I can still remember how much I loved his performance. He’s very gifted.
It’s also rare to see Colm Meaney in such a serious role.
Would love to see it get the Foreign Language Oscar nod that’s been talked about.
November 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am
What’s an Irish movie? Any movie made in Ireland, whether with foreign and/or native money. An Irish movie could be made abroad too and could be called Irish if enough key personnel were Irish. Didn’t an Irish director make a well-reviewed comedy about a British Asian family some years back?
A new post could feature independent Irish movie directors and producers. Think of the pioneering Bob Quinn (Poitin made in Conamara was the first Gaelic language gangster movie)or Cathal Black. Think of a current independent movie producer, Tom Weir (Mapmaker & 32A) who is based in Leitrim. People like them really struggle to obtain financial backing for their art. BBC Channel 4 and other foreign sources have been a big help. There’s a story in that.
November 10th, 2007 at 1:04 am
Agreed. Brendan Conroy was also very good as Git. Indeed, the central pairing of O’Kelly and he made the film as good as it was.
Normally, don’t give a monkey’s uncle’s uncle for the Oscars, but the foreign language one seems to be amongst the more credible of them. Fan go bhfeicfimid!
November 10th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Out of nowhere today, I thought of another film which, due to having an Irish director (Neil Jordan) could be considered Irish. And yet Mona Lisa is not what I’d consider an Irish film, so it’s confusing where the lines blur with definitions…
Garreth, is Poitin about gangsters? I thought it was about two bowsies who are after Cyril Cusack’s booze?
The film you mention is East is East about a Pakistani family. Same director as Inside I’m Dancing.
November 10th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Damien O’Donnell did East is East. The nearly whole crew on that remake of Flight of the Phoenix were Irish too.
Mona Lisa is Film Four I think so it wouldn’t count as Irish.
I used to work for the IFTAs. You should have seen the discussions in trying to actually define what constituted an
‘Irish’ film…I think they bent the rules in 2004 to allow Inside I’m Dancing to qualify…but don’t quote me on that.
My personal favourite Irish film is Butcher Boy, but I have a soft spot for I Went Down, and can’t wait for Shrooms.
November 10th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Well, here’s how it is described on Bob Quinn’s website: “Based on a story by Colm Bairéad it tells of an elderly poitÃn maker and his daughter who exact an appropriate revenge on the two agents who cheat and then terrorise them.” I suppose it ends in gangsterism of sorts.
For info on Quinn’s film-making and writing and photography career visit the site at http://www.conamara.org
November 12th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
TWTSTB was the most boring history lesson I ever sat at, and entirely conceived in Britain by well-meaning British folk. Jolly white of them, and all that.
Kings was a noble effort, I was disapointed because O’Kelly was ‘doing’ Conamara Irish, in a way that was way over the top to my ear.
Oirish accents to look forward to not just in PS I Wuve You, also Strength and Honour….
November 12th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
I’m with Medbh. The Pat McCabe/Neil Jordan combination is Irish cinema’s Lennon & McCartney or is it Jagger & Richards? Well that’s another definitive list!
November 13th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
[…] This article owes its existence to two things: one is the situationist ideas of René Viénet; the other is Sinéad Gleeson. Recently, Sinéad had a post on Irish film, and mused on a possible definition of what constitutes an Irish film. If it’s made by Hollywood is it Irish? Does it have to be set here? Even if there’s one lone Irish character, does that count? What if said character just has a dodgy brogue?. And what about Hitler’s take on things? The less said about Jennifer Aniston’s contribution, the better. The Irish film industry, compared to Hollywood, is still in its infancy and it could be argued that it’s only in the last three or four decades that genuine Irish films have been made, ie ones funded here, shot here, with Irish crews, Irish actors featuring Irish themes and narratives.” […]
November 17th, 2007 at 1:39 am
What no Disco Pigs, the film that gave us Elaine Cassidy and Cillian Murphy? Great to meet you again tonight!
November 19th, 2007 at 3:43 am
As has already been said, The Butcher Boy is excellent. Can’t believe nobody mentioned In The Name of The Father… not perfect by any means, but as emotionally powerful as they come. Intermission had some great moments, as does Michael Collins though both have flaws a-plenty.
But no discussion of Irish films would be complete without linking to Pitch ‘n’ Putt with Joyce ‘n’ Beckett (a 2 and a half minute joy to watch, available on Youtube).
November 21st, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Great discussion. Fair play Sinéad. Just to add, there have been a number of excellent short films made in recent years that have had wide-ranging international success (some even as Gaeilge) like Yu Ming is Ainm Dom, Mac an Athar, 50% Grey, Six Shooter, Prey Alone, 35 a side. All worthy of mention and more besides. Another few great Irish features… The General, Bloody Sunday, Omagh. Any takers?
Also worth checking out….
To mark Film Ireland’s 100th issue, the magazine conducted a poll among its readers to determine their favourite Irish feature films. links…
http://www.filmireland.net/116/2020hindsight.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_Ireland