This November marks the 30th anniversary of the Irish release of Neil Jordan’s Michael Collins. To celebrate the milestone, Film In Dublin is hosting a special screening in Cleary’s – a fitting venue for the occasion. The Amiens Street pub was a favourite haunt of the 'Big Fella' himself and also served as a filming location for Jordan and his crew.
Starring Liam Neeson, Julia Roberts, and Aidan Quinn, Jordan’s historical biopic tells the story of the revolutionary who led the guerrilla war against the UK, negotiated the creation of the Free State, and commanded the National Army during the Irish Civil War. Ahead of the screening on 15th November, we caught up with Film In Dublin founder and head writer Luke Dunne to discuss the film, its legacy, and the special event.
It sounds brilliant! What inspired you to organise the screening?
Luke: On Film In Dublin we’re really proud of the city’s own unique film culture and history, and we really wanted to do something to continue to thread that connection. Our website had its own 10th anniversary earlier this year, and actually one of the things that inspired me to set up the website was going to the Dublin International Film Festival ten years ago – they held a 20th anniversary screening at the Savoy, with a Q&A afterwards with Neil Jordan and Aidan Quinn. Hearing about the making of the film while sat in the magnificent, badly missed Screen One of that cinema really gave me that feeling of Dublin as a place with its own film culture and community; it wasn’t all just about actors going off to London and films coming in from Hollywood.
Looking back 30 years, why do you think Neil Jordan’s Michael Collins remains such a significant film in Irish cinema?
Luke: It’s interesting, because Ireland is very interested in our own history, and our film industry has grown a lot since the time that this film was made. Our standing within the Hollywood system is high, and yet it’s still quite unique in its scope and focus. It’s very much a Hollywood-style historical epic, and there aren’t a lot of those about Ireland.
In terms of films focused on this period of Irish history made after Michael Collins, the biggest one would be The Wind That Shakes the Barley, which was well received here, but it’s still a Ken Loach film on a Ken Loach budget. There’s so much of our history that can fit into blockbusters and biopics – I’m very happy to have films like The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and Jimmy’s Hall – but you look at stories surrounding the Rising and establishment of the Republic, characters like Markiewicz or Casement or Connolly, there’s a lot of untapped potential there, and a lot of variety. Sometimes in Ireland I think we look at our history as very stuffy and serious, but the best parts of Michael Collins are the parts that don’t feel like a history lesson, the smaller, character-focused stuff.
It’s a history that people want to connect with, though. What I found so interesting looking back at the making of the film was the interest and enthusiasm from the public – it was rated so that children could go see it despite the violence, etc., because it was seen as ‘important’ for people to go see. The sets that were built for the film of the GPO and Mansion House received a lot of visitors; there was even some talk about keeping them up permanently as tourist attractions. So many people signed up to be extras, bringing clothes from their own homes, their own family histories.
Can you tell us about the venue?
Luke: It’s been a real personal struggle for me to promote this event, to tell you the truth, because Cleary’s is probably my favourite pub in the city, and I’m almost reluctant to put a spotlight on it and have more people know about it! They do the best Guinness in town there, honestly. They host the QHI Big Screen Movie Quizzes there as well, so it’s a great spot for film fans, and that’s before you even get into its connection to Michael Collins itself.
When you go there you’ll see lots of photos of Collins and the gang, because it was actually a pub they used to frequent themselves back in the day. Jordan ended up using it for scenes in the film, and the way that the film uses places like this, or Vaughan’s Hotel where Collins was holed up, really gets across the guerrilla warfare approach of Collins and co. They’re planning policy in abandoned buildings and talking tactics down the local.
What can people expect on the night?
Luke: Well, I’ll be on hand on the night to introduce the film. There are five screens in the function room of Cleary’s we’ll be using, so there will be a real big match feeling to the film.
We are collaborating with the amazing artist Selkies, who is making some really fun prints that we’ll have available on the night. We’ll have those and some of our own bits of merch, our cinema scarves, our totes; there will be plenty to pick up.
With a new generation of viewers discovering the film, what do you think they might take away from watching it today?
Luke: The relationship between Collins and Harry Boland, played by Aidan Quinn, is a core part of the film, and it’s one that would be even more resonant for modern audiences. They’re both pursuing the same woman in Kitty Boland, but it’s not a bitter love triangle at all. Harry and Mick are very flirty with each other; there’s a bit of Challengers to them and Kitty, it’s almost like the three of them are dating together…
The week leading up to the screening is going to be a Michael Collins Week on filmindublin.ie. We’ll be running a variety of articles focused on the film, which is going to include an article from Ciara Moloney delving into this topic a little more. We’ll have a few modern perspectives on the film that week, so people can head into the screening with that in their minds. It’s not something that we want to have trapped in amber, so bring the krew!
For anyone unfamiliar with Film In Dublin, could you explain what you do?
Luke: Film In Dublin covers news, reviews, and interviews from what we call the fair city of film, and beyond. We spotlight indie stars on the rise, give our own local opinions and insights into film, and try to encourage people to attend and be aware of Ireland’s own events and industry… a bit like yourselves at Film Ireland!
Absolutely. And we encourage all of our readers to go have a read over at filmindublin.ie.
Hosting screenings ourselves is new territory for us, and we’re excited to meet up with our readers and yours on 15th November.
We'll see you there!
Join Film In Dublin at Cleary’s on 15th November for a special 30th anniversary screening of Michael Collins, celebrating the film’s legacy in the very pub where the Big Fella once drank. Get your tickets here.
