The Irish Film Festival will present the Australian Premiere of Pat Collins’ That They May Face the Rising Sun at its opening night on 17th October in the Dendy Cinema, Newtown in Sydney.
Based on the internationally acclaimed, award-winning novel by Irish author John McGahern, That They May Face the Rising Sun vividly captures the essence of nature, humanity, and the rhythms of life in a rural Irish community in the 1980s.
“That They May Face the Rising Sun is a true gem of a film. On the one hand is the breathtaking scenery and captivating cinematography but on the other is the script based on McGahern’s unique work as an Irish writer. He broke the mould of Irish writing in the 1960s and prepared the way for writers like Roddy Doyle and even Sally Rooney to talk about the underbelly of Irish life,” said Festival Director, Dr Enda Murray.
The film centres around Joe and Kate Ruttledge who leave London to settle in a small lakeside community in Ireland, close to Joe’s childhood home. The film beautifully portrays the loneliness and isolation of country life, while also capturing the subtle joys found in the monotony of daily routines. There are fabulous performances by Barry Ward and Anna Bederke as well as appearances from Irish screen legends, such as Lalor Roddy, Sean McGinley and Brendan Conroy.
Director Tom Collins, who made a documentary about John McGahern in 2005—just a year before the writer’s death—was a fitting choice to bring McGahern’s novel to life on screen.
Dr Murray continues, “This year’s Irish Film Festival offers an outstanding selection of films, showcasing the very best of Irish cinema. I’m delighted to continue our hybrid festival model, bringing these compelling stories to audiences in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Canberra, while also making the program accessible online. Our lineup highlights powerful themes, with a special focus on music and important women’s issues, including domestic violence and abuse,”.
FESTIVAL DETAILS
When: In cinemas October 17th – November 24th
Online across Australia October 17th – November 3rd
Where: In cinemas as follows:
Dendy Cinema, Newtown, Sydney 17-20 Oct.
Cinema Nova, Carlton, Melbourne 24-27 Oct.
Luna Cinema, Leederville, Perth 1-3 Nov.
Dendy Cinema, Coorparoo, Brisbane 15-17 Nov.
Dendy Cinema, Canberra 22-24 Nov.
Tickets: Tickets go on sale Thursday 26th September.
Ticket sales: www.irishfilmfestival.com.au
The full Irish Film Festival program will be announced on September 26th 2024
