Declan Lynch introduces a Belgian festival that celebrates the best new Irish movies, and asks the big question: What is Irish cinema?
I sit in Limerick, a beautiful bookstore/cafe recently converted from an old pharmacy. It's located one hundred meters from St. Pieters train station in Ghent, Belgium. Two coffees arrive. One minute later, so does Lennart Soberon. He’s a PhD of Film Studies and part-time programmer at the local indie cinema, KASK. The movie conversation is soon pinging from Pat Murphy’s Maeve (1981) to Joe Comerford’s Traveller (1981) and Reefer and the Model (1988) to Johnny Gogan’s Mapmaker (2001) to more recent titles like Thomas Ryan’s Twice Shy (2016) and Cathy Brady’s Wildfire (2020). We discuss and quickly conclude that it would be fun to see what a Belgian audience would make of Peter Ormrod’s Eat the Peach (1986) in the future, but unfair to project it from a DVD. It, like many other historical titles have no high resolution digital format copies for projection or preservation.
Lennart is asking the question: Is there something that could be categorised as ‘border cinema’ in Ireland and if so, what are it’s unique qualities? He also moving to Ireland next in April to further study ‘Border Cinema’. Look him up, say hello! I’ve promised to send him some contacts and we’ve agreed to explore this theme for a future festival.
The question leads to a wider one. What is Irish cinema?
It’s an oft-discussed topic. There are perhaps as many answers as film makers in Ireland. Irish domestic cinemagoers may have their own thoughts. There is another audience though, an international one. While some Irish films are universal in theme or for other reasons make it to cinemas, broadcasters and streaming services oversees, not all do. There is an ever-growing network of film festivals that are specifically interested in Irish cinema - and perhaps even the questions around it.
Scéal Eile: Irish Film Festival Belgium is one such Irish themed festival. And in it’s third year it’s a relatively new addition. The festival runs from March 23rd to 25th in Belgium. This year's festival picks are Tomás Ó Súilleabháin’s debut feature Arracht, Philip Doherty’s black comedy Redemption of a Rogue and Kim Bartley’s gripping bareback horse racing documentary Pure Grit.
There is an ever-growing network of film festivals that are specifically interested in Irish cinema - and perhaps even the questions around it.
Of those titles, Arracht and Redemption of a Rogue are the type of films not regularly programmed in Belgium. As such, this represents an unique first and possibly final opportunity for audiences in Belgium to view two distinctly Irish films on the big screen. While Arracht will strengthen Belgian cinemagoers' knowledge of an Irish identity formed in historical trauma, Redemption of a Rogue may suggest a somewhat dark view of where that trauma has led. Bartley’s Pure Grit is a different proposition. It is beginning it’s run on the global film circuit. It will likely be screening again in Belgium, whether in mainstream cinema release, bigger festivals or eventually via steaming service.
It is a unique documentary film focused on the life of young Native American bareback horse racer, Sharmaine Weed. It’s a dramatic and compelling story that takes many an unexpected turn. It is a stunning masterclass in observational film making. And, as it happens, it’s made by an Irish director. It is also Screen Ireland-backed so, yes, it can be well argued that it is an Irish film. More importantly, it is a great film. So moreover, this is a not-to-be-missed preview screening for cinephiles and documentary fans alike.
Scéal Eile Irish Film Festival Belgium, like many festivals abroad is supported by the Irish Film Institute’s IFI International programme which is funded by Culture Ireland. Reel Borders is a research project focusing on the relations between film and borders that is funded by the European Research Council. Lennart has now been ‘volunteered’ to the film festival committee. No such thing as a free coffee...
Scéal Eile: Irish Film Festival Belgium runs from March 23rd to 25th 2022. Declan Lynch is an Irish writer/producer living in Belgium.
