The Week I Ruined My Life

#IrishFilm: Adaptation of Caroline Grace-Cassidy’s The Week I Ruined My Life in the works

Coming soon from Farpoint Films and Park Films is The Week I Ruined My Life, a film version of the bestselling novel by Irish author Caroline Grace-Cassidy.

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the Canada Media Fund will be financing the co-development of audiovisual content under the Canada-Ireland Co-Development Incentive for Audio-Visual Projects, with the film receiving €23,059 and €10,000 from the Irish and Canadian funds respectively in the last round of funding.

The Week I Ruined My Life is the story of Ali Devlin, who isn’t the type of woman to have an affair. But as her marriage to her childhood sweetheart Colin turns bitter, she begins to rediscover the woman she once was. She seeks solace from her toxic relationship by throwing herself into a new job that she loves, by confiding in her best friend Corina and, most dangerously of all, by spending more and more time with her workmate Owen – who just so happens to be passionate, charming and everything her husband used to be. Then one heat-of-the-moment decision on a business trip to Toronto sets off a series of events that will change the course of all their lives forever.

The film rights to the book were purchased by Dublin-based Park Films last year before they ventured out to find Canadian producers to work with. Grace-Cassidy’s own adaptation of the screenplay is set in both Dublin and Toronto, and the plan is to film in both locations. Farpoint Films is a film, television and digital media production company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They utilise in-house production and post-production facilities to hand-craft inspiring and creative storytelling, including programming for Canadian networks CBC and CTV. Park Films are currently working on Ivan Kavanagh’s The Disassembled Man, starring Emile Hirsch, and has previously produced the acclaimed Irish features Tin Can Man and The Canal.

Commenting on the news, author/screenwriter Caroline Grace-Cassidy said:

I was delighted when Anne-Marie Naughton of Park Films optioned my novel in the first place – but as a writer I am well aware of so many books I know that have been optioned but never make the development stage even. It’s only because of the MASSIVE support from the BAI and the Canadian Media Fund that this film will be made. Park Films and Far Point came together to make this co production and I’m extremely grateful to them both!

For me the process of adapting from novel to screen is exciting and inspiring. I’m loving the transfer from page to screen – I just hope the audience will too! As a novel The Week I Ruined My Life was possibly my most visual piece of writing – I could really see it as a screenplay. I’m in the process of adapting it now and it’s amazing to think I will see these made up people become three dimensional characters on a screen.

Park Films added:

We’re thrilled to be working with Caroline on adapting her best seller book for the screen. It’s a strong story with a fair amount of dramatic incidents.  It has echoes of Closer &  I Smile Back– modern relationships, flirtation, love triangles, independent women with a zest for life, art and a delicious glass of wine…..and ultimately the ongoing cultural trend in modern day relationships away from the traditional and towards individualism and self-fulfillment. We’re delighted to be co-producing it with Farpoint Films in Winnepeg.