IRELAND ON SCREEN: SPIN THE BOTTLE (2003)
RTÉ Two
Saturday June 21st 10:00pm
On being released from prison, Rats sets about raising money to send his clinically obese Aunt to Lourdes for a miracle cure. After many hapless attempts to get a job to raise the money, Rats resorts to his only weapon… his musical genius, and gate crashes a boy band competition live on national television.
Director Ian Fitzgibbon
Producer Michael Garland
Script Ian Fitzgibbon and Michael McElhatton
Photography Owen McPolin
Editor Grainne Gavigan
Design Padraig O’ Neill
Music John McPhilips
Main Cast Michael McElhatton, Peter MacDonald and Pat Leavy
Location Dublin
Production Company Grand Pictures
IRELAND ON SCREEN: TROUBLE WITH SEX (2005)
RTÉ Two
Saturday June 21st 11:35pm
A sexy romantic drama in which opposites attract. Conor is lonely and unattached, dutifully running the traditional Dublin pub owned by his hard drinking father. Michelle is a fast-rising young Dublin lawyer with a smart apartment overlooking the Liffey, but dissatisfied in her relationship with a doctor. Late one night, Michelle bursts into the bar and orders a triple vodka. The consequences are explored and developed with an honesty and credibility as these disparate characters tentatively draw closer to each other. They become lovers. There is a strong sexual attraction but there are complications along the way and the path to love can be rocky. Something’s got to give.
Director Fintan Connolly
Producer Fiona Bergin
Script Fintan Connolly and Catriona McGowan
Photography Owen McPolin
Editors Ray Roantree and Sarah Armstrong
Design Steve Kingston and Laurent Mellet
Music Niall Byrne
Main Cast Aidan Gillen, Renee Weldon, Mannix Flynn and Eamon Morrissey
Location Dublin
Production Company FUBAR
IRELAND ON SCREEN: AGNES BROWNE (1999)
RTÉ One
Friday June 27th 9:35pm
Based on Brendan O’Carroll’s novel The Mammy, and set in 1960s Dublin, this film traces the life of Agnes Browne, a Moore Street trader, who is left with seven children following the untimely death of her husband. Despite her straitened circumstances, Agnes has a natural optimism and a fierce determination to keep the family strong and united. Romance enters her life in the guise of Pierre, a local French baker and this, together with Agnes’s obsession with the singer Tom Jones, makes for an intriguing story.
Director Anjelica Huston
Producer Jim Sheridan, Arthur Lappin, Greg Smith and Anjelica Huston
Script Brendan O’ Carroll and John Goldsmith
Photography Tony Richmond
Editing Eva Gardos
Designer David Brockhurst
Main Cast Anjelica Huston, Marion O’ Dwyer, Arno Chevrier, Ray Winstone and Tom Jones
Location Dublin
Production Company Hell’s Kitchen