Shem The Penman Sings Again is a musical and cinematic journey into James Joyce’s creative imagination and the conception of Finnegans Wake,inspired by his connection to the tenor John McCormack.
The film begins and ends with the dying Joyce listening to a recording of McCormack and remembering back to 1904 when he and the great Irish tenor sang together in a concert in Dublin, before both emigrating to fulfill their respective destinies. The film echoes various cinematic styles from the period covered by the film 1904 – 1941 to evoke Joyce’s interest in cinema and all aspects of popular culture. The shifting styles highlight moments in Joyce’s life and work that connect him aesthetically and emotionally to the singing voice.