Irish Film Institute -Once Upon a Time in a Cinema

Once Upon a Time in a Cinema

Director: David Gleeson


A cinema in a small Irish town in the mid-80s is the setting for David Gleeson’s (Cowboys & Angels) charming crowd-pleaser which follows weary manager Earl Clancy (Colin Morgan) as he struggles to stay afloat during one chaotic Friday night screening of Breathless (the Richard Gere-starring remake of Godard’s original). As technical disasters, unruly patrons, and family tensions mount, Earl must confront the uncertain future of his beloved single-screen theatre.

Notes by David O’Mahony

World Premiere: Dublin International Film Festival, 2026

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