Principal photography began yesterday (March 14th) on Declan Recks’ new Irish comedy feature, The Flag.
The film tells the story of a ‘past-it’ Irish builder and his motley crew as they aim to pull off a daring heist – reclaiming the original Irish flag of the 1916 revolution from an army barracks in the UK. He does so to restore his family reputation after discovering a letter from his grandfather claiming to have been the one to raise the flag at Dublin’s General Post Office during the Rising. His support crew? An ex-jockey, a dogging enthusiast and a cockney republican.
Comedian and actor Pat Shortt (Garage) plays the lead role, with support from Moe Dunford (Vikings), Ruth Bradley (Pursuit), Brian Gleeson (Rebellion), Andrew Bennett (The Stag), and Peter Campion (Brooklyn).
The Truth Commissioner director Recks reteams with playwright and screenwriter Eugene O’Brien, with whom he previously collaborated on TV series Pure Mule and feature film Eden. Viva cinematographer Cathal Watters is DoP, with Rob Walpole and Rebecca O’Flanagan producing for Treasure Entertainment. The film received funding from the Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hÉireann.
The Flag will film for five weeks in and around Dublin, and in Liverpool, before decamping for post-production in Dublin.
Recks’ latest feature The Truth Commissioner was recently released in Irish cinemas and was aired on BBC Two NI last weekend. Treasure Entertainment will release the eagerly anticipated Oscar shortlisted and IFTA nominated Spanish language drama Viva in cinemas later this year.