Irish Film Institute -MONTHLY MUST-SEE CINEMA: PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME!

MONTHLY MUST-SEE CINEMA: PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME!

Director: John Quested

91 minutes, U.S.A., 1975, Digi-beta


This month we present an American film adaptation of the play which launched Irish playwright Brian Friel on the international stage.

A young man, Gar O’Donnell, debates with his alter ego whether or not he should leave the depressing environment of his home town of Ballybeg where he works in his father’s shop and migrate to Philadelphia to live with his aunt. Donal McCann delivers a truly great performance as Public Gar, the repressed antagonist who is manifested openly on screen by his extroverted (but unseen to others) alter-ego Private Gar – played with panache by Des Cave.

Friel himself wrote the screen play which John Quested directs with flair. Exploring common Irish literary themes of alienation, exile and the search for one’s true identity and capturing fine performances from Irish theatrical giants it is a definite must-see for all fans of Irish culture. Featuring: Siobhan McKenna, Donal McCann and Des Cave.

 

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