Poitin (Quinn, 1978): Kiln Theatre, 8pm
Kiln Theatre introduction:
We
will be joined by filmmaker Sé Merry Doyle and actor and
Irish-language tutor Pádraig Ó Loingsigh of The Irish Cultural
Centre Hammersmith to place Poitín in
context.
A very rare chance to see the
first feature film produced in the Irish language, Poitín tells
the story of moonshiner Michil (Cyril Cusack), who lives the quiet
life with his daughter tending to his stills on his remote farm in
Connemara. He relies on two ne’er-do-wells to get the black market
drams to the people, but following a brush with the law, they plan to
double-cross him. But Michil has more than a few dark tricks up his
sleeve. More than just a pioneering
film, Poitín is also a masterclass in building atmosphere,
with an authentic, unsettling sense of place. Full of characterful
faces and great performances from non-actors, sitting alongside Irish
acting royalty like Cyril Cusack (Odd Man Out) and Donal McCann (The
Dead), Poitín deserves a place alongside folk horror
classics, while also showing a memorable vision of rural Ireland
miles away from Emerald Isle clichés.
Here (and above) is an extract.
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