CinÉireann April 2018 | Page 26

Michael as a character internalises a lot of his emotions and is very quiet, and for him to break his silence in that moment is an insight into his mind and into his genuine fear. He becomes more human in that moment.

It is him trying. I think that one of the aims of the film is to show how easily Michael's path changes. I think that the film does show that idea of 'what would it be like if that was me?' or 'how would I cope if that was me'. Nothing too dramatic happens in the film that changes Michael's path. He gets a pack of drugs, puts it in his pocket, takes it home, and puts it in a wardrobe. And that's it. Then his life is irredeemably altered.

And not just his life, but also that of his grandfather.

Lalor was amazing. He was absolutely wonderful to work with. He's an actor that I've admired for many years and I had him in mind. I just contacted him and asked him if he'd do it and he said yes. He brought so much to the film. He was always asking questions. Always digging. Always challenging. In a very collaborative, very nice way. And at the end of the film I said to him 'you've made it better by all of that'. It was a lovely working relationship and I really can't wait to work with him again. I really can't. And he's a complete gentleman too.

Because Lalor brings a Northern accent in it allows you to imagine his own backstory. Perhaps he was in jail, perhaps he was involved in the troubles, perhaps he had to escape down from the North. And with Michael's father in jail already, perhaps there was never any chance for Michael,

The part in his background that we felt was important to put across was that he gave up his own addiction, which was to alcohol, 19 years ago when Michael was expected. So Michael was a fresh start for him, and that was very important to him. It makes Michael's decline that much more difficult to take, because he held out such hope for Michael.

He obviously felt that he failed his own son and that his grandson was a chance for redemption.

Yes. Exactly as you said. There's a point when a teenager just distances themselves from their family and it's difficult for parents or grandparents to reach them and it's a terrible helpless feeling. People in the neighbourhood know more about this young person that you love dearly and you try to fight that all of the time. So that was where the Francis character was coming from. He was trying to help him, and to do everything that he could to figure it out how to reach him.

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26 CinÉireann / April 2018