Filmmaker Mark Mc Loughlin introduces The Life Of Brian (Maguire), a new documentary portrait of the celebrated Irish artist premiering on RTÉ One this February - watch it now via RTÉ Player.
Making a documentary with Brian Maguire is quite an experience. He is what one might describe as a rare character - wild, fun, abrupt, passionate, challenging, immensely generous, scatter brained, entertaining, talented and much more, all in one person.
We have been connected for many years and what initially drew me to him was his wildness and eccentricity. We made this film in some of the most dangerous places in the world, including Ciudad Juarez, Mexico which was a full-on war zone when we began filming there in 2011.
Language has never been an issue with Brian no matter where we go. His linguistic abilities are null and void to say the least – having lived periodically in Paris for 15 years or so he uses "gracias" to say thank you! But he makes up for it with his body language and warmth, and the way in which he embraces people.
It has been an immense journey of discovery for both us over the years we have worked together, and our shared passion for human rights keep us driven towards bringing light to new stories and issues,
Even in the most testing situations where there is no common language, he has managed to ease tensions and wriggle out of potentially dangerous situations. We had one very tense experience when filming in a prison in Mexico, where the slightest show of weakness would have ended in a blood bath. 40 people were shot dead in that prison some time after we worked there.
This film has been years in the making and features many projects we have worked on together, mainly at the frontline of society, where people are struggling to survive having become victims of capitalism. Brian brings his art to the people and beyond the gallery, into homes and villages and to the highest bastions of power at UN headquarters in New York and The European Parliament.
It has been an immense journey of discovery for both, and our shared passion for human rights keep us driven towards bringing light to new stories and issues, I have learned a lot from Brian.
Making this film has been quite a struggle, so we are really happy that it is finally coming to the screen and that some of the life-work of Brian can be spread further and bring light to the real story of the world.
The Life Of Brian (Maguire), RTÉ One, February 20th at 10.15pm - catch up afterwards via RTÉ Player
