The Programme for the 55th BFI London Film Festival has been announced. This year’s Irish line-up includes Steve McQueen’s ‘Shame’ and David Cronenberg’s ‘A Dangerous Method’- both films starring Irish actor Michael Fassbender; Alexandra McGuiness’ first feature ‘Lotus Eaters’, Lelia Doolan's inquisitive documentary, ‘Bernadette: Notes on a Political Journey' and Paolo Sorrentino's 'This Must Be The Place'.
‘Shame’ is Steven McQueen’s second feature film since his IFTA winning debut ‘Hunger’. Michael Fassbender (Hunger) takes the lead role of a successful business man who tries to control his sexual addiction and finds it even harder when his on-screen sister Carey Mulligan (An Education) moves in with him. The film also co stars James Badge Dale (The Departed). ‘Shame’ recently was screened at this years Venice International Film Festival. Fassbender will also appear in the screening of David Cronenberg’s film ‘A Dangerous Method’, which looks at the beginning of psychoanalysis in the early 1900’s.
One of the highlights of the festival includes a special screening of Lynn’s Ramsay adapted version of Lionel Shriver’s’ book ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’. An in-depth look at the making of the film will accompany the screening. The cinematographer on the film was Armagh native Seamus McGarvey (The Atonement). The key cast and crew members attending on the night have yet to be announced.
Paulo Sorrentino’s ‘This Must Be the Place’ road-trip film centres on Sean Penn’s character, a retired reclusive rocker living outside Dublin who must take a reluctant journey back to America when his father falls fatally ill. The film will be show as part of the festival’s Film on the Square series of screenings. ‘This Must Be The Place’ was shot on location around Dublin and Wicklow for three weeks last summer and was co-produced by Irish production company Element Films. Penn (Mystic River) stars alongside Irish talent Simon Delaney (Zonad), Olwen Fouere (Ballykissangel), Kerry Conlon (The Runway) and newcomer Eve Hewson.
The British Cinema category includes the low budget Irish feature ‘Lotus Eaters’ written and directed by debut filmmaker Alexandra McGuiness and was co-produced by Fastnet Film’s Morgan Bushe (The Runway). ‘Lotus Eaters’ was shot on location in Wicklow, Westmeath and London and the film follows the story of ex model and struggling actress Alice (Antonia Campbell-Hughes) on her path to self destruction.
Lelia Doolan's documentary ‘Bernadette: Notes on a Political Journey’ will be shown as part of the Europa Cinema category. The documentary explores the story of Bernadette Devlin McAliskey’s political life in Northern Ireland during the late 1960’s. Doolan’s film captures a unique figure in the Irish civil rights movement and the struggles of the time through archival footage.
Other films included in the line-up with an Irish connection are ‘Dream of a Life’ which was filmed on location in Ireland and UK drama ‘Wreckers’ that credits Irish actor Peter McDonald (The Damned United).
Opening this year festival will be Fernando Meirelles’ ‘360’, written by Peter Morgan, and starring Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law and Rachel Weisz. Tarence Davies ‘The Deep Blue Sea’, that also stars Weisz, will be closing the festival. The BFI London Film Festival 2011 will take place 12 – 27 October 2011.
