John Boorman’s portrait of Martin Cahill. One of Dublin’s most notorious criminals, The General’s career in crime swept from youthful misdemeanour dabbling in crime, to merciless extortion of Dublin traders, a multi-million pound jewellery robbery, and a major art heist from Russborough House.

Brendan Gleeson creates a memorable portrait of a complex character, undeniably brutal in his criminal dealings but also a devoted partner to his wife (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and her sister (Angeline Ball), a decent father to their many children, and a Robin Hood figure to his needy neighbours to whom he dispensed stolen goods. Cahill had a devilish sense of humour and a flagrant disregard for the authorities, for other criminals, and for the paramilitaries, which led ultimately to his execution by a lone gunman in Ranelagh in 1994.

Winner of Best Director, Cannes Film Festival 1998.

With a recorded introduction from John Boorman.

Notes by Sunniva O’Flynn