With guests Jim Sheridan and Daniel Day-Lewis. The sad news of the recent death of Pete Postlethwaite makes this a timely tribute to one of Sheridan’s most moving characters. Drawn once more from real-life individuals, In the Name of the Father reunited Sheridan with Daniel Day-Lewis in this re-enactment of the miscarriage of justice that led to the Guildford Four being wrongly imprisoned for the pub bombings of October 1974. Day-Lewis plays Gerry Conlon, Pete Postlethwaite is his father, Giuseppe, and much of the film’s strength lies in the interplay between these two actors as the younger Conlon gradually realises that he must take control of his life if justice is to be achieved. The British media responded with outrage to the film and particularly to national treasure Emma Thompson’s role in it as crusading lawyer Gareth Peirce. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, Sheridan was unlucky to lose out in all categories in the year of Schindler’s List.

This screening is dedicated to the memory of Pete Postlethwaite.