If you are interested in Irish films or want to learn more, I have listed a number of websites that may be of interest to you:
http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/
http://www.imdb.com/
http://www.ifta.ie/
http://www.movies.ie/
http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=484
Enjoy
Where are our Irish Stars?
Ireland suffered greatly from a brain drain in the 1980s, we lost our brightest and best to foreign lands, where their intelligence, their talent or their vision could be better accomodated.
I don not think it is unreasonable to presume that this drain on Irish society has continued when we look at Irish actors and actresses. How many of our talented stars still call the Emerald Isle their home?
For example, Liam Neeson, one of Ireland's biggest stars, lives in New York. Colin Farrell, lives in Los Angeles. Cillian Murphy, lives in London. Jonathan Rhys Meyers spends most of his time in his London or Los Angeles abodes. Gabriel Byrne lives in New York, the list goes on and on.
What is so unattractive about Ireland for our native stars? It is clear that most Irish stars do not personally detest Ireland, for example Cillian Murphy has noted that he was delighted to work on The Wind That Shakes the Barley as it gave him a chance to film close to home and to use his natural accent in a film. Similarily, Pierce Brosnan, an Irish star who became an American citizen in 2004 has noted "my Irishness is in everything I do. It's the spirit of who I am, as a man, an actor, a father. It's where I come from."
The more obvious reason for these stars emmigration is that they must simply go to where there is most work and in these cases, most work for Irish actors is to be found in either England or America. If anything, this shows Ireland's reliance on these two countries when it comes to film production.
Hopefully, in a few years, the Irish film market would have grown suficiently as to allow Irish actors to reside in Ireland. I am skeptical, however, that this will ever be the case.
Themes in Irish films: Part 3 The Church
The Catholic Church seems to play a role in almost every Irish movie. In some cases, such as in The Commitments, it plays only a very minor role, but it is rare that the Church is not mentioned at all.
There are many reasons why the Church is so prevelant in Irish films. Firstly, the Church played such an large and important role in the running of the country and within everyday life in Ireland for so many years that it would be unusual for the Church not to play a role. The Catholic Church even assisted in the drafting of the Irish constitution, a draft copy of the constitution was sent to the Vatican for review before its publication.
Another reason why the Church is featured in so many films is because of the large degree of abuse that many of its institutions and preists have participated in. Many Irish films try to reflect these dark times on the silver screen. These films include 2003's Song for a Raggy Boy and the disturbing 2002 movie The Madgdalene Sisters. Sexual abuse is also breifly exposed in Neil Jordan's The Butcher Boy, but it is almost as a side story. There is many cases of abuse, especially of minors, in many Irish films, but it is reassuring to see that Irish film makers do not shy away from covering these controversial topics.
There are many reasons why the Church is so prevelant in Irish films. Firstly, the Church played such an large and important role in the running of the country and within everyday life in Ireland for so many years that it would be unusual for the Church not to play a role. The Catholic Church even assisted in the drafting of the Irish constitution, a draft copy of the constitution was sent to the Vatican for review before its publication.
Another reason why the Church is featured in so many films is because of the large degree of abuse that many of its institutions and preists have participated in. Many Irish films try to reflect these dark times on the silver screen. These films include 2003's Song for a Raggy Boy and the disturbing 2002 movie The Madgdalene Sisters. Sexual abuse is also breifly exposed in Neil Jordan's The Butcher Boy, but it is almost as a side story. There is many cases of abuse, especially of minors, in many Irish films, but it is reassuring to see that Irish film makers do not shy away from covering these controversial topics.
The Irish Film Board
The Irish Film Board credits itself as a development agency for the Irish film industry and claims to invest in talent, creativity and enterprise. The Irish Film Board also activley promotes Ireland as a location for filming for foreign films.
The original Irish film board was abandoned in 1987, but following the success of Irish films such as The Crying Game by Neil Jordan, the Irish Film Board was reconstituted in 1993. Lelia Doolan, Chairperson of the Board at the time said "The existence of an energetic and imaginative film activity underpins the continuation and development of an Irish identity."
The Irish Film Board had a capital of €16.5m in 2010 but, unfortunately, is under consideration of being dropped by the Government because of the current economic crisis.
If the Irish Film Board is dropped I think that it will be a dire shame and will throw away what has been a blooming market in the last few years.
If you want to check out some of the films which the IFB has help to produce or fund, there website is http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/
Themes in Irish films: Part 2 The Family
The family is a common theme in Irish films. Irish families are often shown to be dysfunctional sometimes with some sort of abuse involved.
Another common element in these films is the fact that one parent (most usually the father) is missing from the family. Martin McLoone notes in his book Irish Film: The Emergence of a Contemporary Cinema that "a reaccuring motif is the sense that the irish family is incomplete, with either the mother or the father missing from the drama with disastrous results in terms of generational conflict."
Often the mother is shown as being the responsible parent who is resourceful and leads the family, such as in 1999's Angela's Ashes. Where the father is seen as a no-good drunk, with the mother acting as the dependable parent.
In another example, Jim Sheridan's My Left Foot, we are given an example of a father who is emotionally distant and a mother who is very caring and maternal in the form of Brenda Fricker.
This can be again seen, albeit in a more comical sense, in 1999's Agnes Browne. In the opening scene we see an example of a mother who is eager to support her family despite her husbands passing, in this case looking for Government support on the morning of her husbands death.
Another common element in these films is the fact that one parent (most usually the father) is missing from the family. Martin McLoone notes in his book Irish Film: The Emergence of a Contemporary Cinema that "a reaccuring motif is the sense that the irish family is incomplete, with either the mother or the father missing from the drama with disastrous results in terms of generational conflict."
Often the mother is shown as being the responsible parent who is resourceful and leads the family, such as in 1999's Angela's Ashes. Where the father is seen as a no-good drunk, with the mother acting as the dependable parent.
In another example, Jim Sheridan's My Left Foot, we are given an example of a father who is emotionally distant and a mother who is very caring and maternal in the form of Brenda Fricker.
This can be again seen, albeit in a more comical sense, in 1999's Agnes Browne. In the opening scene we see an example of a mother who is eager to support her family despite her husbands passing, in this case looking for Government support on the morning of her husbands death.
Case Study 2: Garage
In this 2007 movie, written by Mark O'Halloran and directed by Lenny Abrahamson, we are introduced to Josie (played wonderfully by Pat Shortt) a lonely garage assistant working in a small Irish town. He lives a mundane life and when he isn't working at the garage he 
spends his time in the pub with his "friends" who mock him and his simplified way of thinking. Although there seems to be little to celebrate in his life, Josie seems happy and optimistic.
A 15 year old boy, David (played by Conor Ryan) is hired to work alongside Josie in the petrol station and the two begin a friendship of sorts. As the pair become closer, Josie begins to supply the minor with booze. Josie steps overboard when he shows pornagraphic material to David. After he is approached by the Gardaí, Josie commits suicide.
What makes this film so poignant is the spectacular portrayel of Josie by Pat Shortt. Shortt is more used to featuring in comedies, such as D'Unbelievables but fits in to the simple sadness that is Josie's life. Watch Pat Shortt's portrayel at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjWEXoNwpow
Another great collaboration between Mark O'Halloran and Lenny Abrahamson, the same team behind Adam and Paul.
spends his time in the pub with his "friends" who mock him and his simplified way of thinking. Although there seems to be little to celebrate in his life, Josie seems happy and optimistic.A 15 year old boy, David (played by Conor Ryan) is hired to work alongside Josie in the petrol station and the two begin a friendship of sorts. As the pair become closer, Josie begins to supply the minor with booze. Josie steps overboard when he shows pornagraphic material to David. After he is approached by the Gardaí, Josie commits suicide.
What makes this film so poignant is the spectacular portrayel of Josie by Pat Shortt. Shortt is more used to featuring in comedies, such as D'Unbelievables but fits in to the simple sadness that is Josie's life. Watch Pat Shortt's portrayel at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjWEXoNwpow
Another great collaboration between Mark O'Halloran and Lenny Abrahamson, the same team behind Adam and Paul.
This Year's IFTA's
This year has been an exciting year for Irish Film, we have recieved much international acclaim, both in front and behind the camera. Therefore, there was much excitement at this years IFTA's.In the film section the winners were:
Best Film: The Eclipse
Best Director: Jim Sheridan - Brothers
Best Script: Conor McPherson, Billy Roche - The Eclipse
Best Actor in a Lead Role: Colin Farrell - Ondine
Best Actress in a Lead Role: Saoirse Ronan - The Lovely Bones
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Aidan Quinn - The Eclipse
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Dervla Kirwan - Ondine
Best Feature Documentary: His & Hers - Andrew Freedman
The event was held in Dublin's Burlington Hotel on the 20th of February. For more information on the award ceremony check out the IFTA's website at www.ifta.ie
The IFTA's
The Irish Film and Television Awards were set up in 2003 with an aim to encourage "The simulation of original and creative production work and the encouragement of excellence through recognition, education and leadership in film and television".
The IFTA's have a large range of awards for both television and international work. It's film categories that are awarded are as follows:
- Best Film
- Best Director
- Best Actor in a Lead Role
- Best Actress in a Lead Role
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Best Feature Documentary
Because there is not a large amount of productions in Ireland certain films tend to dominate the IFTA's. For example, in 2008, Garage won Best Film, Best Director, Best Script and Best Actor.
Despite this small criticism, I find it unusual that an award ceremon that celebrated those working in Irish film and television had not been set up before 2003.
Case Study: Jim Sheridan
Jim Sheridan is arguably Ireland's most important film-makers. Sheridan was born in Dublin in 1949. He moved to America in 1982 (which served as an inspiration for his 2002 hit movie In America).
It wasn't until 1989 that made his first film. That first film was My Left Foot. This film launched Daniel-Day Lewis' career and earned Sheridan two Oscar nominations, one for best director and one for best screenplay.
His next film, in 1990, was an adaption of John B. Keane's play The Field.
In 1993, Sheridan reunited with Daniel Day-Lewis for his critically and commercially successful hit: In the Name of the Father. The film was nominated for seven Oscars, which included three nominations for Sheridan himself.
His next directoral effort was 1997 film, The Boxer, in which he once again collaborated with Daniel-Day Lewis. Sheridan was nominated for a Golden Globe for best director for The Boxer.
In 2002, Sheridan released In America, a film which gained Sheridan another Oscar nomination for best screenplay.
Perhaps suprisingly, Sheridan teamed up with Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent) for 2005's Get Rich or Die Tryin', a film about a drug dealer trying to make it as a rapper.
Sheridan's latest work was 2009's Brothers, which recieved only modest success.
Sheridan was one of the true Irish innovators who brought world attention to Irish cinema in the early 1990s.
Themes in Irish movies. Part 1: Republicanism
There has been some criticisms that Irish films often carry a very limited amount of themes. In Frank Stapleton's The Fifth Province, a satire on filmmaking, he urges 'No more stories about Irish mothers, preists, sexual repressions and the miseries of rural life.'
Although it is unfair to limit the meanings of all Irish movies to a few themes, I will look at themes in Irish cinema in general, which may help to understand the issues that most irish films are concerned with.
The notion of nationalism, and in particular Ireland's quest for a united Republic, is well documented in Irish movies. From the earliest films in Ireland, such as Irish Destiny, to our biggest movie successes, such as Michael Collins, and even in some of Ireland's more experimental productions, such as 2008's Hunger, notions of nationalism are faced.
Irish films often portray these political points through personal stories. These stories often have a backdrop of Irish nationalism.
As Martin Loone notes in his book Irish Film: The Emergence of a Contemporary Cinema, Irish cinema commonly features a "kind of national questioning that we have identified as an aspect of recent Irish cinema, revisiting a particularily acrimonious and unpleasant episode in the recent history of Ireland to draw lessons for the present."
Examples of Irish films that contain a personal story with a political backdrop are; Some Mothers Son, where the story of the H-Block hunger strike is told from the point of view of one of the mothers of a H-Block prisoner. Another example is The Wind that Shakes the Barley, this shows the experiences of two brothers as they are turned against each other in the Irish Civil War. in this sense we get the true atrocities of the Irish Civil War through a personal story of two brothers.
I will be looking at some other common themes in Irish movies in later posts.
Although it is unfair to limit the meanings of all Irish movies to a few themes, I will look at themes in Irish cinema in general, which may help to understand the issues that most irish films are concerned with.
The notion of nationalism, and in particular Ireland's quest for a united Republic, is well documented in Irish movies. From the earliest films in Ireland, such as Irish Destiny, to our biggest movie successes, such as Michael Collins, and even in some of Ireland's more experimental productions, such as 2008's Hunger, notions of nationalism are faced.
Irish films often portray these political points through personal stories. These stories often have a backdrop of Irish nationalism.
As Martin Loone notes in his book Irish Film: The Emergence of a Contemporary Cinema, Irish cinema commonly features a "kind of national questioning that we have identified as an aspect of recent Irish cinema, revisiting a particularily acrimonious and unpleasant episode in the recent history of Ireland to draw lessons for the present."
Examples of Irish films that contain a personal story with a political backdrop are; Some Mothers Son, where the story of the H-Block hunger strike is told from the point of view of one of the mothers of a H-Block prisoner. Another example is The Wind that Shakes the Barley, this shows the experiences of two brothers as they are turned against each other in the Irish Civil War. in this sense we get the true atrocities of the Irish Civil War through a personal story of two brothers.
I will be looking at some other common themes in Irish movies in later posts.
Good Irish accents
Although the Irish accent has been well and truly butchered by foreigners (especially Americans) trying to portray it on the silver screen, we have to give credit to those who have done a good job. Perhaps unsuprisingly this list isn't as long as those that have done a bad job of the Irish accent!
Sophie Myles
Kelly MacDonald
Cate Blanchett
Sophie Myles portrayed the daughter of an Irish king in 2006's romantic drama Tristan and Isolde. Although the film is full of wishy-washy romance, Sophie Myles, a Londoner, shines through with an authentic sounding Irish accent. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HTYyB3Sc9w&feature=related=related
Paddy Considine
Paddy by name and paddy by nature, well if his Irish accent is anything to go by. In Jim Sheridan's 2003 hit In America, Paddy Considine, a Brit, portrays Johnny the father of a family of Irish emmigrants trying to make a new life for themselves in New York. Considine does an impressive Irish accent throughout. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNrrLO_Pus8&feature=related
Kelly MacDonald
Scottish actress, Kelly MacDonald, sounds like a Dublin native when she starred in John Crowley's 2003 film Intermission. Her linguistic skills also shone through in No Country For Old Men in which she pulled off a Texas accent.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYPTrcho84s
Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett pulled off both a great performance and a good Irish accent in her portrayel of Veronica Guerin in a 2003 movie based on the journalists life. It is hard to believe that Cate Blanchett is an Australian after her believable performance in Veronica Guerin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tM4z0QsVh8
All those in the list below should take note! These are examples if good Irish accents.
Bad Irish accents in films!
As we are talking about how Irish characters are represented in mainstream movies I thought it would be interesting to look at one aspect which can really irritate irish people: getting the Irish accent wrong!
Julia Roberts
Gerard Butler
Chris O'Donnell
There are many Hollywood heavy-weights that are guilty of this crime. But let's not be too harsh the Irish accent, along with the Scottish and South African are some of the hardest accents to get right without over-doing it.
Let now have a look at some of the worst instances of the Irish accent being re-created:
Sean Connery 
Probably one of the worst offenders of balntantly destroying the Irish accent. Firstly, in Darby O'Gill and the Little People. http://www.youtube.com/watchv=wA45t2BLvbo&feature=relatedv=wA45t2BLvbo&feature=relatedre=related
Did Sean Connery learn from his mistakes? I'm afraid he did not! He repeated his failure of an Irish accent in The Untouchables, were he seemed to not bother to lose his Scottish accent! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g0RLyxP13o
Julia RobertsSean Connery is not alone in the charge of being a multi-offender of a bad Irish accent. Hollywood's darling, Julia Roberts, is also guilty.
Roberts plays an Irish servant to Dr. Jekyll in 1996 movie Mary Reilly. Unfortunately, unsuspecting victims of Mr.Hyde are not the only things being butchered in this movie; the Irish accent also takes quite a serious pounding. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_smkhn4plY&feature=relatedv=H_smkhn4plY&feature=related
She repeated her "oirish" accent in another 1996 film Michael Collins. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OONwAcZcng8&feature=relatedated
Gerard ButlerAnother man who got the Irish accent very, very wrong in romantic comedy P.S. I Love You.
Despite just living across the pond (he is Scottish) he also got the accent wrong.
Thankfully, though, Butler had the good grace to apologise for his his Irish impression! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJJmoYp_2tw
Tom Cruise
In 1992, Tom Cruise played hot-headed Irishman Joseph Donnelly in Far and Away.
What ensued was one of the most notorious slaughters of the Irish accent in modern times.
Lucky for Tom, he had the Mission Impossible franchise to fall back on!
Tommy Lee Jones 
In perhaps one of his lesser known films, Tommy Lee Jones played an Irish terrorist in 1994 action movie Blown Away.
In perhaps one of his lesser known films, Tommy Lee Jones played an Irish terrorist in 1994 action movie Blown Away.
Although this film is not as well known as some of the other films on this list, it still desverves a spot because Tommy Lee Jones' Irish accent is just dire!
Kevin Spacey 
Kevin Spacey has many fans and because ofhis performances many people are willing to overlooksome of his flaws. Not me though! In 2000's Ordinary Decent Criminal, set in Dublin, Spacey's only crime is destroying our native accent!
Richard Gere
Richard Gere is no stranger to destroying accents. Not only did he destroy the British accent in 1995's First Knight, but he also destroyed the Irish accent in 1997's The Jackal.
In this film he played an ex-IRA member (suprise, suprise) trying to catch an assasin. Hear his horrible takeon the Irish accent here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKV6_hB6nV0hB6nV0
Michael J. Fox
In Back to the Future 3, Michael Fox shows that Irish accents were no better in 1885! In this scene we are introduced to Marty McFly's great-great Irish grandad. Sorry for the video quality, but I think it is still easy to hear the bad Irish accent. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHcoYyxU6MU
Chris O'DonnellI'm afraid an Irish second-name doesn't save Chris O'Donnell on this one! In 1995 Chris O'Donnell played Jack Foley in Circle of Friends, set in 1950s Ireland.
His accent has to be heard to be believed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhsTEGHMepI
Justin Theroux
Another American messing up the Irish accent! Justin Theroux plays another Irish bad guy! He does no credit to the Irish accent, he seems to mix a Scottish accent and a stereotypical Irish accent, whatever it is, it isn't good! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4_f-Ht5-vY
There are many other people out there who have done terrible jobs. But these are shining, stinking examples. If you can think of any other bad Oirish accents, please leave a comment!
How the Irish are represented in films
Many people, myself included, living in Ireland are unhappy about Irish people are represented in mainstream cinema.
This blog entry is refering to how people who are portrayed to be Irish, and not necessarily irish actors, are used in films. I will be examining irish actors in a later blog entry.
I have noticed that there seems to be a minority of roles that Irish people can be portrayed as in mainstream cinema.
For example, Irish people have been represented quite heavily as violent, drunken and, to be honest, quite often plain crazy. We are portrayed as roguish, renegade sort of characters.
It is easy to link our violent cinema image to our turbulent past and, in particular with The Troubles in the North in the 1970s. It is also because of the large amount, and notorious reputation, of Irish-American gangs that are operating (or have been operating) in America throughout the years.
This violence has allowed the Irish to be portrayed as IRA, bomb-making terrorists by mainstream cinema. There are many cases of these, for example: The Devil's Own (1997), The Jackal (1997) and Blown Away (1994) along with many others.
Irish immigrants' violent past in New York, was also well documented in Martin Scorcese's 2002 epic drama film; The Gangs of New York.
I think the representation of Irish people being crazy, or at least a bit wired, can be blamed, almost entirely on David O'Hara. Despite the fact that David O'Hara is actually a Scottish actor, he has been continueously cast in Irish roles. He played an Irishman in films such as The Departed and The Matchmaker.
Another example of such an Irish role can be seen in the more recent Leap Year. This again has an Irish male lead, this time played by Mattew Goode, ironically an English actor.
This blog entry is refering to how people who are portrayed to be Irish, and not necessarily irish actors, are used in films. I will be examining irish actors in a later blog entry.
I have noticed that there seems to be a minority of roles that Irish people can be portrayed as in mainstream cinema.
For example, Irish people have been represented quite heavily as violent, drunken and, to be honest, quite often plain crazy. We are portrayed as roguish, renegade sort of characters.
It is easy to link our violent cinema image to our turbulent past and, in particular with The Troubles in the North in the 1970s. It is also because of the large amount, and notorious reputation, of Irish-American gangs that are operating (or have been operating) in America throughout the years.
This violence has allowed the Irish to be portrayed as IRA, bomb-making terrorists by mainstream cinema. There are many cases of these, for example: The Devil's Own (1997), The Jackal (1997) and Blown Away (1994) along with many others.
Irish immigrants' violent past in New York, was also well documented in Martin Scorcese's 2002 epic drama film; The Gangs of New York.
I think the representation of Irish people being crazy, or at least a bit wired, can be blamed, almost entirely on David O'Hara. Despite the fact that David O'Hara is actually a Scottish actor, he has been continueously cast in Irish roles. He played an Irishman in films such as The Departed and The Matchmaker.
David O'Hara has always given a quirky performance. But if we look at his performance in films such as Bravheart (above) where he was cast as a crazy Irish outlaw, or his renegade role in Some Mothers Son where he played an unusual IRA terrorist, I can begin to see why we got the typecast.
There has been an unusual move in the last few years, to have Irish men as the male leads in romantic comedies.
These are mainly to cater for American audiences who may have a exotic view of Irish people and way of life. This can be seen in 2007's P.S. I love you, which shows two Irish men which American actress Hillary Swank has feeling for.
Ironically, neither Irish role was filled with Irish actors. The roles instead went to Gerard Butler, who is Scottish, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who is American.
Another example of such an Irish role can be seen in the more recent Leap Year. This again has an Irish male lead, this time played by Mattew Goode, ironically an English actor. The Irish Times' Donald Clarke, described the film "offensive, reactionary, patrionising filth" and said "Hollywood is incapable of seeing the Irish as anything but IRA men or twinkly rural imbeciles."
Donald Clarke may be on to something there, especially when you consider the "Oirish" characters that are in most mainstream movies.
Case Study 1: Intermission
Intermission is one of my all time favourite Irish films. It is a black comedy set in Dublin. It has a cast which best represents Ireland's young male talent, in the form of Cillian Murphy and Colin Farrell. It also stars some other heavy-weights of Irish cinema, such as Colm Meaney.
The 2003 film, directed by John Crowley, circles around a couple and the people surrounding them. There are several main stories that are interlinked throughout the movie and there is a vast and colourful cast with over 50 speaking parts.
The writing is witty and sharp and captures the feel of our capital city. This is very much a tip of the hat to first-time script writer Mark Rowe, whose masterful wit shines throughout.
Intermission, which recieved generally positive reviews, deals with many unsavoury characters such as Lehiff (Colin Farrell), who is both comical and intimidating as a scumbag throughout. As well as impressive performances from Cillian Murphy as John a confused in love small time crook and renegade detective, Jerry Lynch (Colm Meaney) who has a taste for fame.
This film has one of the most representative cast of Irish actors and it shows the great wit of Irish humour throughout.
How the Irish Film Industry has developed since...
In 1943 the National Film Institute was established, it had a strong Catholic ethos which followed Government censorship laws and looked to make decent and clean films. It was a large producer of documentaries in the 1940s.
As Ireland moved in the 1960s, it began to have more of a modern outlook. RTÉ was launched in 1961. Although a huge step forward for Irish television it resulted in a reduction in film production.
In 1975 RTÉ bought Ardmore Studios, which became the National Film Studios. However, although all these advances there was not much film production in Ireland at the time.
It was not really until the late 80's and the early 90's that things really started opening up for Irish films and Irish film makers.
In 1980 the Irish Film Board was set up. This was a huge step for Irish filmmakers as it allowed directors to draw on state funding without state interference. This meant that Irish directors could get funding, even if the film's being made went against Catholic ethos or were controversial.
The 1980s was also the launching of one of Ireland's most famous film-makers - Neil Jordan.
Following the success of Irish movies at this time, such as My Left Foot and The Crying Game. People began to take notice of Irish cinema.
As Ireland moved in the 1960s, it began to have more of a modern outlook. RTÉ was launched in 1961. Although a huge step forward for Irish television it resulted in a reduction in film production.
In 1975 RTÉ bought Ardmore Studios, which became the National Film Studios. However, although all these advances there was not much film production in Ireland at the time.
It was not really until the late 80's and the early 90's that things really started opening up for Irish films and Irish film makers.
In 1980 the Irish Film Board was set up. This was a huge step for Irish filmmakers as it allowed directors to draw on state funding without state interference. This meant that Irish directors could get funding, even if the film's being made went against Catholic ethos or were controversial.
The 1980s was also the launching of one of Ireland's most famous film-makers - Neil Jordan.
Following the success of Irish movies at this time, such as My Left Foot and The Crying Game. People began to take notice of Irish cinema.
Irish Cinema: The Early Years
The first Irish cinema in Ireland was The Volta and it was opened by James Joyce. Before this time, cinema in Ireland was mainly part of variety shows, were the novelty of moving clips, and not the actual story telling aspect, was the main attraction.
Ireland became a relatively popular location for American movie-makers in the early years of cinema. Ireland was the first location American movie-makers travelled to to film on-location outside of the USA. The Kalem production company took a particular interest in Ireland as a location for filming.
Films such as The Lad from Old Ireland and Rory O'Moore were filmed in Ireland to cater for the large numbers of Irish diaspora living in the USA.
It was not until 1916 that the Film Company of Ireland was set up. Although it did not have the budgets of its Hollywood counterparts, it worked furiously and created nine films in a three year stint such as Willy Reilly and his Colleen Bawn.
These early Irish films, including American productions in Ireland, were linked to radical nationalism. As a result, many of these early productions such as Bold Emmet, Ireland's Hero and Irish Destiny, were banned by the ruling British authorities of the time.
Why Ireland matters
It may be easy for a lot of people to overlook Irish cinema. We are a country of a mere 6 million and we mainly deal in small independent productions. In the film industry it is easy to be overwhelmed by the commercial giant that is, and has been since the beginning of cinema, Hollywood. With such large budgets, world-recognised stars and mind-bending stunts and special effects, how does the small Irish film industry stand a chance?
Well, I think Irish cinema plays an important role on the international stage. Although our budgets are modest and many of our stars are lost to the larger, more prosperous foreign markets, we have a unique outlook on the world.
Through this blog I wish to examine everything which involves the Irish in film. I will be looking at the history of film in Ireland, Irish films and their themes, Irish actors and how Ireland and the Irish are portrayed in mainstream cinema.
I find Irish cinema the most interesting as it most closely reflects the environment in which I have been raised and features characters which seem familiar and consistent with Irish communities.
Art reflects life and Irish life is wonderfully re-created on the silver screen in these Irish film productions.
Well, I think Irish cinema plays an important role on the international stage. Although our budgets are modest and many of our stars are lost to the larger, more prosperous foreign markets, we have a unique outlook on the world.
Through this blog I wish to examine everything which involves the Irish in film. I will be looking at the history of film in Ireland, Irish films and their themes, Irish actors and how Ireland and the Irish are portrayed in mainstream cinema.
I find Irish cinema the most interesting as it most closely reflects the environment in which I have been raised and features characters which seem familiar and consistent with Irish communities.
Art reflects life and Irish life is wonderfully re-created on the silver screen in these Irish film productions.
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