James Connolly Film

national | anti-capitalism | news report Thursday April 28, 2005 14:48 by Connolly Watch

James Connolly Film and Book

Adrian Dunbar Irish actor/director Adrian Dunbar is
set to direct a feature film biopic based upon the
life of Irish socialist James Connolly who was
executed following the 1916 Easter Rising.

Speaking to IFTN at the Jameson Dublin International
Film Festival Irish premiere of his latest Irish feature
'Mickybo & Me', Dunbar confirmed the picture is nearing
the latter stages of financing and development and he
hopes to direct the film in late 2005/early 2006.

Adrian Dunbar Irish actor/director Adrian Dunbar is
set to direct a feature film biopic based upon the
life of Irish socialist James Connolly who was
executed following the 1916 Easter Rising.

Speaking to IFTN at the Jameson Dublin International
Film Festival Irish premiere of his latest Irish feature
'Mickybo & Me', Dunbar confirmed the picture is nearing
the latter stages of financing and development and he
hopes to direct the film in late 2005/early 2006.

'Connolly' will star Scottish actor Peter Mullan in
the lead role. Mullan who wrote, directed and starred
in the 2002 hit film 'The Magdalene Sisters', has a
long list of acting credits that include 'Trainspotting,'
'Ordinary Decent Criminal' and 'Young Adam'.

This will be the feature directorial debut for
Fermanagh native Dunbar, who is well known for his
performances in 'The General' and 'The Crying Game.'
This move towards the helm comes as no surprise to
industry watchers since throughout 2004 Dunbar was
acclaimed for his stage directorial debut of Brian
Friel's play 'Philidelphia Here I Come'.

"It's all going very well at the minute", says Dunbar.

"We have a wonderful script written by Tom Stokes and
Frank Allen and the story of James Connolly's life is
incredible. It goes from the founding of the first
union here in Ireland and follows James to the US
where he was very influential in setting up unions,
especially amongst Italian workers. Then it comes back
to Dublin, organising with Larkin the huge lockout of
1913 and then realising that what he really had to do
was take on the Empire straight on. It's a really
beautiful story and a very powerful story and I think
its going to resonate all over the world."

Dunbar promises a "very dirty and gritty"
representation of Irish life at that time with the
story being told through the eyes of Connolly's
daughter Nora. The film is produced by Rascal Films.