Natascha McElhone and Charlotte Rampling have joined the cast of ‘The Sea’, which has begun principal photography in Wexford.
McElhone (Californication) and Rampling (The Duchess) join previously announced cast Ciaran Hinds (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist) and Sinead Cusack (Eastern Promises, V for Vendetta) for the screen adaptation of John Banville’s critically acclaimed Man Booker Prize-winning novel.
Pop star Ronan Keating’s daughter Missy Keating has also landed her second screen role following Irish co-production ‘Dark Touch’, which was shot earlier this year. Joining her on the shoot are fellow young talents Matthew Dillon and Padhraig Parkinson.
As exclusively revealed on IFTN a number of months ago, ‘The Sea’ is directed by Stephen Brown (feature debut) and produced by Luc Roeg (We Need To Talk About Kevin) and Michael Robinson of Independent with David Collins (Once) of Dublin-based Samson Films.
The five-week production will primarily shoot on location in Co Wexford with post production taking place in Dublin at Windmill Lane.
The film’s plot follows Max (Hinds) who, after the death of his wife, returns to the sea where he spent his childhood summers, provoking a cathartic reflection as the present draws out powerful memories from one fateful summer many years ago – memories of innocent joy, uplifting warmth but also of profound tragedy. Only an unforeseen revelation will provide a path to redemption and closure.
Irish crew attached to the project includes director of photography John Conroy (Parked); production designer Derek Wallace (Good Vibrations); line producer Brian Willis (The Boy In The Bubble) and editor Stephen O’Connell (Borstal Boy).
Producer Roeg said of the project "I've wanted to make a film of John Banville's haunting and soulful novel for several years and it's been worth the wait. I'm excited to introduce a new film maker, Stephen Brown, to world cinema and I couldn't be more delighted with the cast and crew we've assembled together with our producing partners at Samson Films. The film has been made possible by the tremendous support we've had from Ireland and all our financiers."
David Collins added: “We are delighted on a number of fronts, firstly that the film is shooting in Wexford and secondly that we have managed to assemble such a wide range of support from Irish sources to realise this as an ambitious feature film."
’The Sea’ is an Independent / Samson Films production in association with Rooks Nest Entertainment, Quicksilver Films, Windmill Lane Pictures and RTÉ with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the participation of the Irish Film Board.
The executive producers are Andrew Orr, Philip Herd, Ernest Bachrach, Rebecca Long, Steve Spence, Michael Sackler and Julia Godzinskaya.
Independent Films Sales are handling international sales and Independent Distribution will release the film theatrically in Ireland and the UK in 2013.
