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Director
Oliver Hirschbiegel
Credits
Producers: Stephen Wright, Eoin O'Callaghan. Writer: Guy Hibbert
Principal Cast
Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt
Category
Feature
Northern Ireland’s violent past casts a long shadow in this emotionally-complex drama that has director Oliver Hirschbiegel wrestle with difficult questions of guilt and forgiveness. The brutal murder of Joe Griffin’s (Kevin O’Neill) brother before his eyes by the teenage Alistair (Mark Davison) leaves deep wounds on Joe’s psyche; thirty years on, an adult Joe (James Nesbitt) stills dreams of vengeance on the now-free Alistair (Liam Neeson). His chance comes when a TV show invites Joe and Alistair to appear and discuss the violent past; Joe, however, plans to keep violence in the present by murdering Alistair live on air. Hirschbiegel had already grappled with difficult political themes in the internationally-celebrated Downfall and here asks tough questions about the consequences of violence and if and how it can be forgiven.
89 minutes, Ireland/UK, 2009, Colour
ARCHIVE AT LUNCHTIME: MCGAHERN: SHORT STORIES (DOUBLE BILL) 13.20
BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD BLACKBERRY 11:00, 20:10
IFI & GAZE: UNMASCED: BEYOND THE AGGRESSIVES: 25 YEARS LATER 20.30
IFI & GAZE: UNMASCED: BUTCHES AND BOYS 18.15
IFI & GAZE: UNMASCED: OUTITUDE 13.30
IFI & GAZE: UNMASCED: SCANNÁIN SAPPHIC (IRISH LESBIAN SHORTS) 15.30
KIDNAPPED 14:30
LOVE LIES BLEEDING 16:10, 20:50
PERFECT DAYS 17:20
THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN 11.30, 13.50, 18.30
THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE 11.20
The IFI is supported by The Arts Council