La Fheile Phadraig

Irish Film Institute
March 18th 2006
12pm

In honour of Saint Patrick’s Day, the Irish Film Archive, in association with An La Gaelach, presents an exciting double bill, spanning two centuries, of the oldest and newest ‘silent’ films made in the Irish language.

The Unusual Inventions of Henry Cavendish / Fionnachtain Neamh Ghnathach Henry Cavendish
B/W 16 mins (2005)
Director: Andrew Legge

An inventor falls in love with a beautiful girl who passes him in a carriage.
[Special Mention – Jameson Short Film Award – Cork Film Festival 2005]

Scenes from Aimsir Phadraig / In the Days of Saint Patrick
B/W 30 mins (1920)
Director: Norman Whitten

One of a handful of indigenous silent Irish feature films that have survived the ravages of time, Norman Whitten’s extravagant reconstruction of the life of Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, depicts his life from birth through slavery to his return to Ireland as Christian missionary. The film is simultaneously inter-titled in Irish and English. This silent film will be accompanied by harpist Cormac de Barra

‘This remarkable historical picture is the outcome of Irish minds, hands and hearts, and presents the life of our patron saint with studied truth. It is a wonder picture for children.’ (Irish Times 16/3/1920)

An afternoon of free screenings of Irish language shorts will follow in the Irish Film Institute meeting room.