Irish Film: Cast and crew to attend A Nightingale Falling world premiere

The cast and crew of a new Irish feature called A Nightingale Falling will attend tonights World Premiere at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway. The lead actress, Tara Breathnach from Galway has been nominated for the Bingham Ray New Talent Award. Also in attendance will be Gerard McCarthy, known for key roles The Fall and Hollyoaks.

A Nightingale Fallingthe Irish historical period drama set during the War of Independence, will receive its world premiere at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh. Directed by Garret Daly and Martina McGlynn, it tells the story of two sisters who, against the backdrop of war-torn Ireland, take in a wounded British soldier. The lead actress, Tara Breathnach, has been nominated for the Bingham Ray New Talent Award.

Directors Garret Daly and Martina Mc Glynn said [quote]We are thrilled to be in the Galway Film Fleadh. As an independent film, it gives us the recognition we needed to vindicate our passion for this film, and to demonstrate what we’ve always believed – that this story needs to be told and seen. We can’t wait till the premiere, because there is something magical about the festival and walking up the steps of the Town Hall for our first feature and it will be a special moment. That’s how important a festival of this magnitude is to an independent  production. Already it has brought great attention to the film, so we are very excited.[/quote]

May Collingwood (Breathnach), is forced to make critical and difficult decisions when she rescues a British soldier and must now protect herself and sister Tilly. They live in fear of the British Black and Tans, the rising IRA, their own entrapment, and ultimately the dark secrets of unrequited love unfolding from within. This is a powerful drama of lives overtaken and destroyed by the events and hardships of the period.

The score for the film was written by Donegal born composer Graeme Stewart . Stewart likens the score to “an emotional spectator  of the film”, and describes it as having ”a lyrical and a pastoral quality, featuring woodwind and solo stringed instruments, while at the same time becoming much more symphonic when it needs to”.  The Ulster Orchestra has recorded the full, feature length score and it joins only a handful of film scores recorded entirely in Ireland.

Canadian singer and songwriter Loreena Mc Kennitt has written the original song for the film.

The screening is already sold out and plans to release the film later this year are already underway. For more information about the film, visit www.anightingalefalling.ie