I love when a local film comes on release. A new Irish film is due to open this month called Between the Canals, the full length feature of director Mark O’Connor.
The film follows three small time criminals from Dublin’s North Inner City as they each aspire to be somebody in a fast changing society: Liam (Dan Hyland) a small time dealer who wants to quit his life of crime to become an electrician and provide for his girlfriend and son; Dots (Peter Coonan), a crazy, irresponsible thug with ambitions to become a big time dealer and Scratchcard (Stephen Jones), a drug user with no ambitions but to stay on social welfare and watch the world go by. Liam is torn between life in the flats and his responsibility to be a good father to his son. He has to just get through this one day and maybe things will look brighter on the other side. But it’s Saint Patrick’s Day and, in Dublin City, this means trouble everywhere.
The film utilises a speedy, hand-held, mobile style of camera-work and was filmed on location in and around Sheriff Street in Dublin. The movie was recently shown at theJameson Dublin International Film Festival, where it was well received, while The Irish Times has praised it’s gritty and realistic style. I for one look forward to see the movie during its limited release.
Between the Canals will be shown in the Irish Film Institute beginning March 18th. Tickets are available online or from the venue.