FRIDAY 14TH FEBRUARYJAMESON DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2014MOTHER OF GEORGEThis visually sumptuous drama finds a youngNigerian-American woman struggling to reconcile anew life and marriage in New York with the traditionsof her homeland.‘visually splendid’The New York TimesFri 14 Feb / Light House 3 / 4.20pm / 106 minutesDirector: Andrew Dosunmu 2013 USWriter: Darci PicoultCast: Danai Gurira, Isaach De Bankolé, Yaya AlafiaTHE MILITANTEL LUGAR DEL HIJOAcclaimed photographer-turned-director AndrewDosunmu’s film opens with a heady rush of the sightsand sounds of a vibrant, traditional Yoruba wedding.Ayodele (Isaach De Bankolé) and Adenike (TheWalking Dead’s Danai Gurira) are being married, andonly after the ceremony is it apparent that the eventis taking place not in Nigeria, but in Brooklyn. A recentimmigrant, Adenike soon discovers her new life is stilldictated by the ways of her homeland, where wivesare expected to conceive children, specifically boys,without delay. Months pass and, much to the chagrinof her domineering mother-in-law, Adenike doesn’tget pregnant. As the pressure mounts she makes adesperate decision, one that might save her marriageor tear it apart.Mother of George is a remarkable achievement forDosunmu. Darci Picoult’s script is rich with detailand life, beautifully captured in award-winningcinematographer Bradford Young’s images. Together,the three have crafted an emotional, immersiveexperience that is a marvel from start to end.Philadelphia Film FestivalManuel Nieto Zas’ ironically-titled The Militant filtersits reflection on political stagnation through a single,remarkable central character. The result is a powerfuland thought-provoking film.The film is set in 2002, when Uruguay wasundergoing strikes and the universities had effectivelyclosed down. 25-year-old Ariel Cruz, played bynon-professional Felipe Dieste, is called away froma students’ union meeting to learn that his father hasdied. Ariel heads for his home town of Salto for thefuneral. He meets his father’s partner Selva (RossanaCabrera), gets involved with the local students’ union,and finds a little romantic interest with Nadia(Leonor Courtoisie).Fri 14 Feb / Light House 3 / 6.30pm / 121 minutesWriter-director: Manolo Nieto 2013 UruguayCast: Felipe Dieste, Rossana Cabrera, Leonor CourtoisieFrustrated by the inability of the protesting studentsto do anything except go round in verbal circles,smoke weed and have parties, Ariel joins a hungerstrike by protesting meat packers, which for the firsttime exposes him to the sharp end of economichardship. It’s a comic, fish-out-of-water setup, but farmore urgent themes are bubbling under the surfaceas Ariel ambles in apparent bafflement from oneawkward situation to the next.Jonathan HollandThe Hollywood Reporter22 BOOK ONLINE AT JDIFF.COM
JAMESON DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2014FRIDAY 14TH FEBRUARYJDIFF SHORTSFri 14 Feb / Light House 1 / 6.30pm / 99 minutesDirectors: Various 2013 IrelandJDIFF presents another hand-picked selection of the best Irish shorts.Programmers: David Mullane, KevinO’Farrell and Liam RyanBREAKFAST WINEATROPHYRÚBAÍDirector: Ian FitzgibbonWriter: Kevin Barry11 minutesThey say it takes just three alcoholics tokeep a small bar running in a countrytown, but what if you’ve only got two?MORNINGDirector: Mairtín de BarraWriter: Matthew Roche13 minutesAtrophy examines the sacrifices made inthe name of development and the effectthey have. A tale of old versus new, loss,friendship and an old farmer and his dog…UISCE BEATHADirector: Louise Ni FhiannachtaWriter: Anton Beag Ó Colla11 minutesThe First Holy Communion is fastapproaching but, as an atheist, eight-yearoldRúbaí refuses to be a part of it.THE LEDGE END OF PHIL(FROM ACCOUNTING)Director: Cathy BradyWriters: Cathy Brady, Sarah Woolner20 minutesMary wakes up on the sofa with abanging headache. Her morning routineis broken by a persistent reporter.MECHANICWriter-directors: Tom Sullivan, FeidlimCannon15 minutesA mechanic at the end of his tether findssolace in old age…Director: Shaun O’ConnorWriter: Tadhg Hickey8 minutesSet in 1912, Uisce Beatha is the true storyof Tom, a young man who leaves hishome in rural Ireland to cross the oceanon the ill-fated Titanic.4 BHANRÍON (4 Queens)Director: Vittoria ColonnaWriters: Vittoria Colonna, Eoin Rogers15 minutes4 Bhanríon (4 Queens) is a black comedyabout four elderly sisters who play agame of poker to decide who will takecare of their elderly mother.Writer-director: Paul Ó Muiris6 minutesStuck outside looking in, Phil is forced toface the world he’s been ignoring. Nowhe must take a leap of faith or be trappedforever.‘WHAT IS A SHORT FILM?’PANEL DISCUSSIONFri 14 Feb /Red Room Light House /5pm / €10Irish short film-makers join two of theworld’s leading short film programmers,Sharon Badal (Tribeca Film Festival)and Kathleen McInnis (Palm SpringsInternational Film Festival), to discussshort film as an art and an industry.JDIFF IRISH SHORTS RECEPTIONSee page 69 for details.BOOK ONLINE AT JDIFF.COM 23