Last night three of the mightiest figures in Irish entertainment went before the curtain in the Savoy cinema to help celebrate the opening night of the fifth Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, writes Donald Clarke.
Martin McDonagh, the London-born author of such plays as The Beauty Queen of Leenaneand The Pillowman, joined tireless character actor Brendan Gleeson and bona fide superstar Colin Farrell at the venue in O'Connell Street for the European premiere of In Bruges, the playwright's first feature film. The two Dubliners appear alongside Ralph Fiennes in the strange, quirky comedy-thriller, which also opened the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Utah last month.
Though marginally less menacing in tone than McDonagh's plays, In Bruges, which was greeted ecstatically by a capacity audience, confirms that the Londoner has the potential to thrive as a film-maker. Farrell (stubbornly idiotic) and Gleeson (long suffering) play two gangsters cast adrift in Belgium's most elegant medieval city.
Featuring many darkly comic twists played out in deliciously filthy language, the black comedy carries traces of Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, but remains true to McDonagh's singular voice throughout.
Following the screening, Farrell presented Gleeson with a Volta Award, the festival's commendation for career achievement. "Well, you know it's always surprising and flattering to be given an award," Gleeson told The Irish Times. "And getting the award in your home town strangely always means that bit more. It's also great for it to be associated with this particular film." Gleeson, who did not start acting seriously until his early 30s, has delivered memorable performances in such diverse material as The General, Gangs of New Yorkand the Harry Potterfilms. Two years ago he appeared in McDonagh's Oscar-winning short Six Shooter.
"Brendan is known for his versatility and adaptability," said Gráinne Humphreys, the festival director. "He also has a great commitment to Irish film. Indeed his generosity is renowned throughout the Irish film community." Further highlights of the festival, which runs until February 24th, include the Irish premiere of Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will be Blood, which will be attended by Daniel Day-Lewis, the film's star, and a screening of Fairytale of Kathmandu, Neasa Ní Chianáin's already hugely controversial documentary on the poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh.
The festival runs until February 24th. Box office phone number: 01-6728861. www.dubliniff.com