You don’t have to be Irish to like Irish films, so enjoy the forthcoming Irish Film Festival, which runs from Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8 at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Bell Lightbox.
The festival gets under way with the Toronto premiere of Standby, directed by the brothers Rob and Ronan Burke. A romantic comedy starring Jessica Pare and Brendan Gleeson, it’s set in contemporary Dublin.
Alan (Gleeson), a musician by night, works at the airport’s tourist information booth. One day, Alice (Pare) appears at his counter because she needs a room for the night before catching a plane back to New York City the following day
Alice isn’t just any traveller. She’s Alan’s old American girlfriend. This information does not immediately surface. The Burkes don’t bother to reveal it for at least 20 minutes into their film, and then it sort of creeps up on you. Up to that point, all we know is that Alan is rebounding from a failed relationship and is still somewhat wary of women.
Being sentimental, Alan offers her accommodation at his dad’s place, where he lives, and a tour of the city. As they share the sights, their old romantic feelings return. But there are two problems, which may be insurmountable. They live on different continents and both are romantically involved with other people.
Yet, as they relive the past, they grow closer to each other. In one atmospheric scene in a smoky nightclub, Alan serenades Alice with an edgy Hank Williams song that sends her an unmistakable message of love. By any measure, it’s the emotional highlight of this sweet-tempered, light-weight movie.
Pare, who stars in the TV series Mad Men as ad man Don Draper’s second wife, is bright and perky as Alice. Gleeson, as befitting his role, tends to be glum and moody.
Standby kicks off the festival in fine style.
The full schedule:
GOOD VIBRATIONS ( Toronto Encore)
Director: Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn
Cast: Jodi Whittaker, Liam Cunningham, Richard Dormer
Running time: 103 mins
Saturday, March 7, 2015, 3:00pm
GOOD VIBRATIONS is based on the life of Terri Hooley, a radical, a rebel and a music-lover in 1970s Belfast . When the bloody conflict known as the Troubles shuts down his city, and as all his friends take sides and take up arms, Terri opens a record shop on the most bombed half-mile in Europe and calls it Good Vibrations. Through it he discovers a compelling voice of resistance in the city’s nascent underground punk scene. Galvanising the young musicians into action, he becomes the unlikely leader of a motley band of kids and punks who join him in his mission to create a new community, an alternative Ulster , to bring his city back to life.
’71 (Special Presentation)
Director: Yann Demange
Cast: Jack O’Donnell,
Running time: 99 mins
Saturday, March 7, 2015, 5:30pm
TIRFF 2015 is proud to present with Toronto ’s Elevation Pictures, a special presentation of the nail biting action thriller ’71, opening in theatres in Toronto on Friday, March 13. In embattled West Belfast, a year before Bloody Sunday, a young British soldier played by Jack O’Donnell (Starred Up, Unbroken) is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the streets of Belfast . Unable to tell friend from foe, and increasingly wary of his own comrades, the raw recruit must survive the night alone and find his way to safety through a disorientating, alien and deadly landscape. This harrowing drama is the cracking feature film debut from UK director Yann Demange with a screenplay by Gregory Burke (Black Watch).
GOLD ( Toronto Premiere)
Director: Niall Heery
Cast: Maisie Williams, James Nesbitt, David Wilmot, Kerry Condon
Running time: 88 mins
Saturday, March 7, 2015, 8:00pm
IFTA winning Niall Heery’s latest film GOLD – which stars Screen International’s ‘Star of Tomorrow’ Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), David Wilmot (Calvary), Kerry Condon (The Runway) and James Nesbitt (The Hobbit) – is an uplifting tale of personal reconciliation. Out of their lives for 12 years, Ray (Wilmot) is on a mission to re-connect with his ex-girlfriend (Condon) and teenage daughter (Williams) who live with his former controlling and regimented P.E. teacher (Nesbitt). Unfortunately his efforts to bridge the gap with his daughter seem to lead to chaos turning any good intentions he may have into comic catastrophe.
TIRFF’S 5th ANNIVERSARY PARTY: Dora Keogh’s, 141 Danforth Ave, Toronto, 9:30pm
TIRFF 2015 IRISH SHORTS PROGRAM
Sunday, March 8, 2015, 4:00pm
I Am Jesus – 7 mins, director Kevin Cassidy (North American Premiere)
Analogue People in a Digital Age – 13 mins, director Keith Walsh (North American Premiere)
Anya – 5 mins, director Damien O’Connor (North American Premiere)
Anywhere but Here – 13 min, director Andy Bradford (Canadian Premiere)
Careful What You Wish For – 4 min, director Myles O’Reilly
I’ve been a Sweeper – 12 mins, director Mark Holland, (Canadian Premiere)
A now-established TIRFF tradition, the shorts program highlights the work of Ireland ’s next wave of influential directors. From the charming I AM JESUS, the thoughtful I’VE BEEN A SWEEPER to the visually stunning CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR this year’s program showcases the depth of Irish filmmaking talent with 6 brilliant short films.
REBUILDING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER (Canadian Premiere)
Sponsored by: N.I Bureau & Tourism Ireland
Director: Marcus Robinson
Starring: Marcus Robinson
Running time:
Sunday, March 8, 2015, 7:00pm
REBUILDING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER is the epic story of hope that is emerging from the rubble and chaos of 9/11. Since 2006, Belfast artist and filmmaker Marcus Robinson has spent over 2,000 days filming the vast new towers rising out of the bedrock of New York City . Using a combination of observational documentary and breath taking time lapse photography this dramatic and stylish film is an artist’s tribute to the tenacity of New York ’s construction workers and the spirit of renewal and endeavor that permeates this unique project construction site.