Ciné Gael Montréal Irish Film Series 2020 ...our 28th

101 min - Dir: Luke Morgan with: Muireann Ní Raghallaigh, Aeneas O'Donnell, Anna O'Donnell

:: Guest Speakers: Patrick Brodie and Luke Morgan Patrick to introduce and Luke on Skype after

"This film should rightfully mark the point at which Morgan and his band of dedicated players move from obscurity to celebrity."

"...self-described by Morgan as 'rough around the edges', it is also brave, exuberant and comedically potent throughout the majority of its 95-minute runtime."

"At the core of the film are Thaddeus and Sally, two strikingly original Irish characters played brilliantly by real-life husband and wife pairing Aeneas and Anna O'Donnell." - Film Ireland Magazine [Jack O'Dwyer]

Luke Morgan, standing before a full crowd in the Gate cinema,proclaims that, in years to come, "we're gonna remember this day when our little film screened in Cork." He is there to introduce his feature-length debut, entitled Sooner or Later, the latest project by an artistic collective from Galway known as "Project Spatula", described by Morgan as a 'rock band, except for films', which is loosely comprised of 30-40 members who move fluidly from film to film, churning out shorts, features and other projects in spite of the complete absence of any solid budget or sponsorship.

At the core of the film are Thaddeus and Sally, two strikingly original Irish characters played brilliantly by real-life husband and wife pairing Aeneas and Anna O'Donnell. Thaddeus is a truly ineffable character, part folkloric hero in the vein of Oisín and part cantankerous lout in the vein of Father Jack Hackett, with a spindly gait like Nosferatu and a leathered face like Mick Jagger. Matching his eccentricity perfectly is Sally, scatter-brained and prone to getting caught up in fads, yet wholly capable of delivering razor-sharp wit in a way reminiscent of the late Carrie Fisher.

Acting as the foil to the mischievous duo is Alice, Thaddeus's granddaughter, played by Muireann NÍ Raghaillach. She cares deeply for her erratic grandfather, and has remained weary of Sally's role in his life for the duration of the couple's six-month long relationship.
Morgan, as well as engaging in all aspects of filmmaking, is also a poet and novelist, noting in the past the similarities between writing a poem and writing a screenplay, due to the exactitude and economy of language that is needed to be effective in both. The script, written by Conor Quinlan and Peter Shine, is infused with this ethos, with great attention paid to the clever turn-of-phrase and cutting, precise punchline. This is particularly relevant in the case of Thaddeus, who speaks in a sort of impactful lilt, sometimes humorous and sometimes empathetic; each line of dialogue, no matter how inane or bizarre, falls from his lips in natural, poetic fashion, which is testament to the quality of the script.

Redolent of Dylan Thomas's famous poem ''Do not go gentle into that good night'', the film is a courageous portrayal of dying on one's own terms rather than simply fading away in conventional fashion. This mature subject matter is, in Morgan's own words, Project Spatula's latest attempt "to shout as loud as we can" until the industry takes notice. If the standard set by Sooner or Later is maintained or surpassed with future efforts, then it cannot be long until the Galway collective's calls are heard; the film is a sparkling paean to life, death, and all the love and hardships in between. - Film Ireland Magazine [Jack O'Dwyer]

82 min - Dir: Frank Shouldice with: Bobby and Ernie Coote

:: Guest Speaker: Frank Shouldice, Director, on Skype after the film

"Frank Shouldice's irresistible documentary follows the fortunes of a County Cavan Icarus, Bobby Coote, who's dreamt of flying for half a century." Irish Independent [ Paul Whitington]

"It was lovely to get to spend time with the Coote brothers, both good-natured, chatty and wise, and to see a slice of life that is not that often seen." Sunday Independent (Ireland) [ Aine O'Connor]

You know how they say it is never too late to follow your dreams? Well, Frank Shouldice's documentary, The Man Who Wanted to Fly, is here to offer reassuring proof that it is indeed the case.

The film introduces us to bachelor brothers Ernie and Bobby Coote, octogenarians (though you would never think it) who live on the family farm in County Cavan. It is younger brother Bobby who has always wanted to fly, but Ernie is benignly sceptical, even after Bobby and his friend Sean build a hangar and a runway. Not even Bobby's purchase of a microlight aircraft can convince his brother that the dream will become reality.

The grass grows over the runway, the plane needs quite a lot of work and Bobby finds reasons to put off his flying lessons. Through the film we see how the men live and interact, we learn of their past, time spent in England, their schooling, their family, their friends, the town in which they live and where everyone knows about Bobby's dream of flight. It was lovely to get to spend time with the Coote brothers, both good-natured, chatty and wise, and to see a slice of life that is not that often seen.
Their story is an insight into a side of modern Irish history because it covers most of the time that the Republic has been in existence. Sunday Independent (Ireland) [ Aine O'Connor]

86 mins - Director: Paddy Breathnach; Screenplay: Moe Dunford, Roddy Doyle with: Sarah Greene, Moe Dunford, Ellie O'Halloran

"A terrific movie and one of the best female performances of the year." FilmWeek  [Peter Rainer]

“...the key player here is celebrated Booker Prize-winning Irish writer Roddy Doyle, whose previous screenplays became memorable films like The Commitments, The Snapper and The Van.” Los Angeles Times  [Kenneth Turan]

A very fine socially conscious drama in the classic Irish tradition, Rosie tells a sobering tale that's "based on too many true stories," the narrative of a mutually supportive family made homeless through no fault of its own.

Though the outlines are indeed familiar, several factors make Rosie rise above the crowd, including uniformly excellent acting and the faultless work of top Irish director Paddy Breathnach (I Went Down, the Cuba-set Viva.)

Doyle wrote "Rosie" after hearing a radio news report about how Dublin's acute shortage of rental properties means even people with steady jobs have difficulty finding places to live.
Unlike other writers who've taken on stories like this, Doyle has the gift of creating characters in extreme situations without hitting you over the head with their plight.

Made with a restraint that enhances the heartbreaking nature of its narrative, Rosie is also fortunate in having top-of-the-line Irish actress Sarah Greene, who is wrenchingly involving as a character teetering on the edge of complete desperation.
What keeps Rosie going, and what keeps us in the film, is her extraordinary resilience as a character and the understated but powerful connection we see and feel among the family members. That bond doesn't solve all problems, not even close, but experiencing it is, as Rosie herself would say, just grand. -Los Angeles Times  [Kenneth Turan]