EXCLUSIVELY AT THE IFI

Larry Mullen Jr., Kate O’Toole and Director Mary McGuckian will participate in a post-screening Q&A hosted by writer and broadcaster John Kelly after the 6.30pm screening on January 11th.

Irish director Mary McGuckian (This is the Sea, Best) translates Patrice Leconte’s 2002 film of the same name into this leisurely tale of two very different men, a teacher and a thief, who meet by chance and bond over their curiosity about each other’s lives. The original pairing of Jean Rochefort and Johnny Hallyday is replaced by a garrulous Donald Sutherland and a taciturn Larry Mullen Jr.

The story begins with the thief arriving in a small town whereupon he is shown a small act of kindness by the teacher (the characters’ names remain unknown), after which he moves in and enjoys his hospitality and that of his ladyfriend (Kate O’Toole) while planning the robbery of the town’s bank. 

Fascinated by and envious of the lifestyle led by the other, the two men come to a mutual respect and understanding. More of a gentle character study than a plot-driven heist movie, it’s a film of great charm. (Notes by Kevin Coyne.)