JAMESON DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:THE CURRENT Jameson Dublin International Film Festival has, of course, been dedicated to the memory of our late colleague Michael Dwyer. Some of his favourite films are being screened, and the Dublin Film Critics Circle will be handing out an award in his name.
On the red carpet before the premiere of Neil Jordan's Ondine, celebrities such as Colin Farrell paid tribute to Michael's achievement in establishing the festival and covering film so effectively in this newspaper.
Jordan, an old pal of Michael’s, was as vocal in his praise as anybody else, but study his words closely and you detect an intriguing undercurrent concerning relations between Irish film-makers and the movie press. Speaking to this writer the day before Michael’s funeral, Jordan said: “He was almost too kind at times. His support for emerging Irish film was such that he was incredibly praiseworthy all the time.”
On Thursday night, talking on RTÉ news, he again suggested that Michael was inordinately kind to Irish films.
The next day, Jordan is at the Merrion Hotel doing press duties for Ondine. After discussing the inspiration for the picture – a romantic piece in which Farrell finds an exotically accented woman in his net – we move on to this surprising assertion that Irish critics are too nice to domestic movies.
“Michael was very kind indeed. Yes, maybe he was too kind,” he says. Does he think that this is a more general problem? Is there a tendency for Irish journalists to go easy on home-grown movies? “I think there probably is. Every one has a struggle to be made.”
So what hitherto unspoken criticisms should be voiced? “I think there’s not enough writing in Irish films,” he says. “You can quote me on that. I have always wondered, when the strength of Irish literature is so strong, when it’s like a force of nature, why the figure of the writer-director has become what everyone wants to be.”
Jordan feels there are untapped creative resources out there. “I don’t quite understand why there’s not more communication between people who are quite brilliant film-makers, and characters like Colm Tóibín and Pat McCabe,” he says. “There is some now, but that cross-fertilisation does not seem to have worked in Irish movies. But it is getting better.”
Involving money from the Irish Film Board, Octagon Films and RTÉ, Ondineoffers a typical model of how films are financed in Ireland. Of course, with a proper movie star on board, the film will find it that bit easier to compete in the international marketplace. Other film-makers have more of a struggle.
Jordan continues: “I am not sure if people who are putting so much energy into the Irish film industry are aware of what the economic conditions are like for the products they will eventually make. Most American directors are now going into television. That’s significant.”
His suggestion that the Irish media goes easy on the country’s film-makers will not be greeted with universal agreement in the Clapperboard Arms. Indeed, many movie professionals suggest that the reverse is the case.
“Do they say that? Well, I have always felt that people were too kind to me. Michael was, I think. I have made movies for various reasons, and sometimes not all of them work, but I always felt Michael was a bit too kind.”
Yes, you read that right. A film-maker has gone on the record saying the critics are too nice to him. As it happens, I really did think Ondinewas quite good.
THREE TO SEE TODAY jdiff.com
THE BEST OF YOUTH
The Michael Dwyer season continues with a screening of Marco Tullio Giordana’s epic of Italian life in the final quarter of the 20th century. The film was Michael’s favourite of the last decade.
Screen 1, 1pm
CAIRO TIME
Ruba Nadda’s seductive drama, winner of best Canadian feature at the Toronto film festival, stars the mighty Patricia Clarkson as a diplomat losing herself in Egypt. Clarkson is expected to attend the screening.
Light House, 7pm
COLONY
Absolutely fascinating – and rather beautiful – documentary examining the decrease in bee populations during 2008 and 2009. Film-makers Carter Gunn and Ross McDonnell will be on hand to discuss their surprising findings.
Cineworld 9, 8pm
