Pigs (1984)
Cathal Black's Pigs takes place in a derelict Georgian house in Henrietta Street Dublin where Jimmy (Jimmy Brennan) a gay man, has decided to take up residence, soon joined by an odd bunch of other squatters. They are the mentally damaged Tom (Maurice O’Donoghue) and one-time businessman George (George Shane) along with various drug dealers and prostitutes that turn up from time to time. This is a decaying house representing a squalid and decaying Ireland, and specifically Dublin as a 1980s apocalyptic shithole. A fine score is used economically and it is beautifully shot amidst the decay. An excellent and criminally underseen film. (Volta)
★★★★
Out of Here (2014)
Out Of Here tells the story of Ciaran (a superb Fionn Walton), who has arrived home to Dublin after spending quite a bit of time travelling abroad. He meets up with old friends, meets a girl in a bar named Melissa (Aoife Duffin) and generally gads about. There is also an old girlfriend Jess (Anabell Rickerby) in his orbit. It is clear things are not quite right. Plot wise wo don’t get much else but with these bare essentials Donal Foreman has crafted one of the best debut films to come out of this country in recent years. The end of the Celtic Tiger and the hopelessness that came with it hang heavily in the background. See it and be wowed. Foreman is a director to watch. (Volta)
★★★★
There are other films that I have yet to catch up with but come highly recommended by others. Frankie Fenton’s It’s Not Yet Dark, Alan Gilsenan’s Meetings with Ivor, Juanita Wilson’s Tomato Red and Tom Ryan’s Twice Shy. These are the ones just from 2017 and this reviewer will hopefully be watching them over Christmas. All are available to watch on Volta. The sheer quantity and quality of Irish film on offer at the moment is truly fantastic. Go forth and investigate further. You will not be disappointed.
72 CinÉireann / December 2017