Kings (2007/I)

Director:

Tom Collins

Writers:

Tom Collins (writer)
Jimmy Murphy (play)

Release Date:

10 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A group of men reunite for a friend's funeral.

Plot Keywords:

Funeral | Death | Friend | Accident | First Aid

Awards:

7 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Colm Meaney	...	Joe Mullan
Donal O'Kelly	...	Jap Kavanagh
Brendan Conroy	...	Git Miller
Donncha Crowley	...	Shay Mulligan
Barry Barnes	...	Máirtín Rogers
Seán Ó Tarpaigh	...	Jackie Flaherty
Peadar O'Treasaigh	...	Micil Flaherty
Seán T. Ó Meallaigh	...	Joe Mullan Jnr.
Christopher Greene	...	Jap Jnr.
Graham Feeley	...	Git Jnr.
Ronan Moloney	...	Jackie Jnr.
Simon Drislane	...	Shay Jnr.
Darragh O'Brien	...	Máirtín Jnr.
Gabrielle Reidy	...	Maggie
Cathy Murphy	...	Bridie

Runtime:

Canada:88 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Ireland | UK

Language:

Irish Gaelic | English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:15A | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Company:

Newgrange Pictures

Trivia:

Ireland's Official Submission to the Best Foreign Language Film Category of the 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008).

Movie Connections:

Followed by Kings: From the Bogside to the Bright Lights (2008) (TV)

An Irish movie about separation and loss.

Kings plunges its viewers into the harsh reality of five Irish immigrant's lives in London. The men are separated not only geographically, but psychologically, from their homeland. They yearn to return, but are consumed with a sense of their own failure and fear rejection from loved ones at home. Instead they immerse themselves in alcohol and unfulfilled dreams. The acting is superb; the characters true-to-life; the theme universal. The use of Gaelic is a dramatic tool that serves to emphasize their alienation again in their adopted town of Kilburn. It is a story of sadness and regret and how individuals deal with pain. Tom Collins's movie challenges the audience to question their own relationships with fellow human beings, especially those from whom they are estranged, and especially those who were forced to leave these shores. It challenges us to question our views on this lost generation and to look at an era in our history that allowed such mass immigration. Hopefully, Kings will open up a national debate on how a Government could have failed its subjects and allowed a land to be bled of its inhabitants; hopefully,it will inspire us to welcome them home with open arms; hopefully it will encourage the present Government to continue to provide the means to do so. Go and see Kings. You will not be disappointed.