It has taken over three years for Lance Daly’s first film to be completed for the screen. Made on a wing and a prayer, the filmmakers managed to shoot this ‘epic journey spanning three continents’ on little more than goodwill and favours, yet the sum of its parts amounts to a thing of far greater value. Shot from the hip on the streets of Dublin, with additional scenes in New York, Paris and Cairo, Last Days in Dublin aspires to a kind of soulful and imaginative indie filmmaking quite unique within Irish cinema.
Monster (Grattan Smith), a diminutive young Dubliner, dreams of going abroad in search of opportunity and adventure. Finding his plans consistently thwarted by a host of oddball characters, he is joined by Freddie, a homeless explorer (MC Wuzza), as he struggles to find an alternate escape.
Exploring the hope and consolation that a dream can provide, Daly offers a charming glimpse of the boom’s apathetic underbelly as Monster and Freddie get on with drinking on rooftops and sleeping in train yards. Through Freddie’s skewed take on the world Dublin looks incredible, if entirely unlike Dublin. The stunning mix of B+W and colour photography demonstrates a visual ambition and flair seldom seen at any level within Irish film. The fact that it was done on such meagre resources makes it all the more enjoyable. Paced by an energetic and emotional soundtrack by Dublin group Go Blimps Go, Last Days in Dublin builds. This is its greatest strength. At first we may not be entirely convinced or intrigued by the young Monster, but by the time we’re through we are rooting for him every step of the way.
Preceded by the short film ‘Just a Little Bit of Love – a tribute to Des Smith’ by Peter Foot.

Ireland, 2002. B+W/Colour. 35mm. Dolby stereo SR. 74 minutes