I've been in Cork for a couple of days straight after my marathon session at the EIFF. Now despite the fact that I've been to Ireland many, many times (by my reckoning this was visit number 16 despite my first trip being only a little over three and a half years ago) this was the first time I'd ever been there on matters entirely unrelated to films.
But I just couldn't help myself.
Wandering the streets of the rebel city, I did exactly as expected (trip through the market, ate too much food, drank too much coffee) however the cinema-loving fates must have smiled upon me as I discovered that the Kino were showing John Huston's THE DEAD at precisely the right time for me to head off to the airport afterwards. Couldn't resist!
I think this must be some kind of record for me. There may be one or two other feature-length films that I've seen this many times in the cinema (BRIEF ENCOUNTER and THE WICKER MAN spring to mind) but this must surely be the only such film I've managed to see (as well as DVD viewing) in three different cinemas. Heck, three different countries really, since my prior viewings were in the NFT in London and the Filmhouse in Edinburgh. Definitely a personal best of some description.
You may have guessed I'm fond of this film. It's odd though, when I first saw it I liked it but didn't really think it was anything special. It stayed with me though, to the point where I had to watch it again and now it seems better every time I watch it.
In case you don't know, Huston adapted this film from the story of the same name which features in James Joyce's collection of short stories "Dubliners". The story, when oversimplified by me, comes down to this: a group of wealthy Dubliners in 1904 gather for a seasonal meal where they discuss the issues of the day, until right at the end of the evening a chance rendition of an Irish song triggers an emotional bombshell that tears through the previous pretence and sets up a heartbreaking tale of lost love.
And that's how Huston's film unfolds. For most of its running time it's an amiable if unremarkable collection of anecdotes, debates, poems and songs. But then the end arrives and in contrast to what has gone before the eruption of emotion is powerful stuff, and from then on (and again with repeated viewings) sadness just seems to tint every frame of the film.
The reasons for the air of melancholy are numerous. For starters there is the obvious power of Joyce's prose, much of which is kept in place for the finale by Huston; the beautiful score by Alex North is haunting; there's something about snow falling that always lends an extra something to movies; and of course, there are the performances of Angelica Huston and Donal McCann.
With both actors at the top of their game - Huston delivering the heartbreaking story of her former love, McCann realising that he has never known such a feeling - it's a cold, cold heart that isn't moved by the closing scenes of the film.
THE DEAD is currently working its way round the arthouse cinemas of Ireland and will also be screened next month at the Galway Film Fleadh as part of a tribute to Angelica Huston, who will be a guest at the festival.
But I just couldn't help myself.
Wandering the streets of the rebel city, I did exactly as expected (trip through the market, ate too much food, drank too much coffee) however the cinema-loving fates must have smiled upon me as I discovered that the Kino were showing John Huston's THE DEAD at precisely the right time for me to head off to the airport afterwards. Couldn't resist!
I think this must be some kind of record for me. There may be one or two other feature-length films that I've seen this many times in the cinema (BRIEF ENCOUNTER and THE WICKER MAN spring to mind) but this must surely be the only such film I've managed to see (as well as DVD viewing) in three different cinemas. Heck, three different countries really, since my prior viewings were in the NFT in London and the Filmhouse in Edinburgh. Definitely a personal best of some description.
You may have guessed I'm fond of this film. It's odd though, when I first saw it I liked it but didn't really think it was anything special. It stayed with me though, to the point where I had to watch it again and now it seems better every time I watch it.
In case you don't know, Huston adapted this film from the story of the same name which features in James Joyce's collection of short stories "Dubliners". The story, when oversimplified by me, comes down to this: a group of wealthy Dubliners in 1904 gather for a seasonal meal where they discuss the issues of the day, until right at the end of the evening a chance rendition of an Irish song triggers an emotional bombshell that tears through the previous pretence and sets up a heartbreaking tale of lost love.
And that's how Huston's film unfolds. For most of its running time it's an amiable if unremarkable collection of anecdotes, debates, poems and songs. But then the end arrives and in contrast to what has gone before the eruption of emotion is powerful stuff, and from then on (and again with repeated viewings) sadness just seems to tint every frame of the film.
The reasons for the air of melancholy are numerous. For starters there is the obvious power of Joyce's prose, much of which is kept in place for the finale by Huston; the beautiful score by Alex North is haunting; there's something about snow falling that always lends an extra something to movies; and of course, there are the performances of Angelica Huston and Donal McCann.
With both actors at the top of their game - Huston delivering the heartbreaking story of her former love, McCann realising that he has never known such a feeling - it's a cold, cold heart that isn't moved by the closing scenes of the film.
THE DEAD is currently working its way round the arthouse cinemas of Ireland and will also be screened next month at the Galway Film Fleadh as part of a tribute to Angelica Huston, who will be a guest at the festival.
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