As ever the Dublin International Film Festival offers a veritable feast for the eyes. Our Editor Michael McDermott selects some highlights to whet your appetite.
The Breadwinner
Here’s hoping its third time lucky at the Oscars for Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon.
The Breadwinner is director Nora Twomey’s story of an Afghani girl and her struggles for a better life. Their pedigree is flawless so expectations are vaulted.
Gala premiere on Thursday February 22 in Cineworld at 8pm
Dawson City: Frozen Time
Found-footage of a gold rush in 1896? Yes please. In 1978 a construction crew literally unearthed 533 silent film reels. Bill Morrison brings this veritable treasure trove of footage, from this Canadian town in the Yukon province called Dawson City, to the big screen.
And there’s a suitably emotive soundtrack by Sigur Rós to compliment it.
Saturday February 24 in the Lighthouse Cinema at 11am.
The Guardians
Life during wartime courtesy of Xavier Beauvois (Of Gods and Men), The Guardians looks at life through the lens of the women left behind as their men went to war. Set in rural France during World War 1.
Saturday February 24 in Cineworld at 6.45pm
You Were Never Really Here
Lynne Ramsey (Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar, We Need to Talk about Kevin) returns to the fray with this revenge thriller starring Joaquin Phoenix.
He plays a troubled man and, truly, there is no better man to play a troubled one than Joaquin. Mr Music Score ‘Jonny Greenwood’ soundtracks it also.
Monday February 26 in the Lighthouse Cinema at 8.30pm with Lynne Ramsey in attendance.
Cedric Gibbons Exhibition
No, we didn’t have a clue who he was either but Cedric Gibbons was an Irishman who won 11 Oscars for his art direction with MGM on productions from Ben Hur to The Wizard of Oz.
Clearly an unsung colossus. And one of us too.
Friday March 2 in the NCAD Gallery with a retrospective series of screenings in the IFI.
Words: Michael McDermott
