Media Contact: Susan Cipollaro, scipollaro@fairfield.edu , 203-254-4000 ext. 2726
FAIRFIELD, Conn. 鈥斅犫淭he Irish in Film,鈥 a free movie series sponsored by the Irish Studies Program at 天美传媒视频无限制观看, kicks-off its tenth anniversary on Wednesday, September 27 , with the first of five dynamic and diverse films. The series is part of 天美传媒视频无限制观看鈥檚 Arts & Minds season of cultural and intellectual programs and is open to the public.
Each film will be screened in the Multimedia Room of the University鈥檚 DiMenna-Nyselius Library on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m., and will be introduced by a member of the Irish Studies faculty who will field questions from the audience after the screenings. Light refreshments will be served.
The series begins on September 27 with the Oscar-nominated animated film Song of the Sea (2014). Directed and written by Tomm Moore (鈥淭he Book of Kells鈥), this enchanting story follows Ben and his little sister Saoirse 鈥 the last of the selkies 鈥 as they embark on a fantastic journey into the Celtic spirit world. The film takes inspiration from the mythological selkies of Irish folklore, who live as seals in the sea but become humans on land. Celtic and Early Irish Art professor Marice Rose, PhD, will introduce the screening.
On October 4 , director Scott Cooper鈥檚 American crime drama Black Mass (2015) will be presented by English professor and author Michael C. White, Ph.D. Based on the true story of James 鈥淲hitey鈥 Bulger, the film stars Johnny Depp as a ruthless south Boston gangster and brother of a senator (Benedict Cumberbatch), who becomes an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf during the 1980s.
The series continues on October 11 with A Monster Calls (2016), a magical fable directed by J.A. Bayona and based on a coming-of-age novel by Patrick Ness. The film stars Lewis MacDougall as Conor O鈥橫alley, a 13-year-old whose life takes a turn after his mother (Felicity Jones) becomes fatally ill, and he moves in with his unsympathetic grandmother (Sigourney Weaver). As an escape, Conor turns to his artwork and conjures up a 40-foot-high monster (voiced by Liam Neeson), who guides him on a journey of courage, faith and truth that helps the young boy cope with his grief. Dr. Robert Epstein, professor of English, will introduce the film.
On October 18 , famed director Ken Loach鈥檚 Jimmy鈥檚 Hall (2015) will be introduced by English professor Nels Pearson, PhD. Set in Ireland in the 1930s and based on actual events, the film stars Barry Ward as Jimmy Gralton, an Irish communist and community activist, who returns from New York after a ten-year, self-imposed exile. Upon witnessing the levels of poverty and oppression overtaking his home, the activist in him reawakens as he looks to re-open the dance hall that led to his deportation.
The series concludes on October 25 with After 鈥16 (2016) , a short film collection commissioned by The Irish Film Board to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising. The collection consists of nine short films by various Irish filmmakers in a mixed format of live action, animation, and documentary that date from the eve of the Rising to the Troubles in 1970s Northern Ireland. The film鈥檚 presentation at 天美传媒视频无限制观看 is made possible by the Irish Film Institute in Dublin, Ireland, and will be introduced by associate professor of History and co-director of Irish Studies William Abbott, PhD.
For more information on The Irish in Film series, contact professor and co-director of Irish Studies, Marion White at 203-254-4000, ext. 2800 or mwhite@fairfield.edu.
天美传媒视频无限制观看 is a modern, Jesuit Catholic university rooted in one of the world鈥檚 oldest intellectual聽and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from the U.S. and across the globe聽are pursuing degrees in the University鈥檚 five schools.聽Fairfield embraces聽a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging聽critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry,聽and fostering ethical and religious values.聽The University is located on a stunning 200-acre campus on the scenic Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.
Posted On: 09-20-2017 11:09 AM
Volume: 50 Number: 39