Home Viewing: Get Up & Go and The Queen of Ireland released on DVD

Two great new Irish films are released on DVD today (November 13th), Brendan Grant’s music-based comedy Get Up & Go and Conor Horgan’s critically acclaimed documentary The Queen of Ireland (?????).

get-up-and-go_dvd-coverWritten and directed by Brendan Grant, Get Up & Go sees Love/Hate duo Peter Coonan and Killian Scott reunite for a slacker comedy which chronicles a hectic 24 hours in the life of would-be comedian Coilin (Scott) and frustrated musician Alex (Coonan).

When Alex’s girlfriend tells him she’s pregnant, he refuses to allow her to derail his long-held plan to escape to London. Meanwhile the hapless Coilin is striking out on stage and off, as he attempts to get his faltering comedy career off the ground and win the heart of his dream girl. With time ticking down to Alex’s departure, the mismatched pair will be forced to confront the reality of their childhood dreams of artistic greatness while their lifelong friendship is tested to the limit.

Along with Coonan and Scott Get Up & Go stars Gemma-Leah Devereux (Stitches, Dartmoor Killing), Sara Lloyd-Gregory (Doctors), Emma Eliza Regan (Love Eternal, Darkness on the Edge of Town) and Sarah McCall (Wide Open Spaces). The film is now available to purchase on DVD in stores throughout Ireland including Golden Discs, Tower Records and the Irish Film Institute as well as online on Amazon and the Wildcard website.

the-queen-of-ireland_dvd-cover The Queen of Ireland is directed by film-maker and photographer Conor Horgan (One Hundred Mornings, Deep End Dance, The Beholder) and builds up a multi-faceted picture of a complex and compelling character through behind the scenes footage, archive, music and interviews with friends, peers and protégés.

Pandora ‘Panti’ Bliss is many things: part glamorous aunt, part Jessica Rabbit, she’s a wittily incisive performer with charisma to burn who is regarded as one of the best drag queens in the world. Created by Rory O’Neill, Panti is also an accidental activist and in her own words ‘a court jester, whose role is to say the un- sayable’. Over the last few years Rory has become a figurehead for LGBT rights in Ireland and since the recent scandal around Pantigate, his fight for equality and against homophobia has become recognised across the world.

The Queen of Ireland is produced by Katie Holly and Ailish Bracken for Blinder Films, with funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and RTÉ. The film is now available to buy in all Xtravision, HMV, Tesco and Heatons stores. Panti herself will be signing copies of the film at HMV Henry Street on Friday November 13th at 5pm.