DIR: John Carney • WRI: John Carney • PRO: Macdara Kelleher, Martina Niland • DOP: P.J. Dillon • ED: Nathan Nugent • Cast: Marcella Plunkett, Killian Scott, Sean Donegan, Maire O’Neill, Des Nealon.
There has been much anticipation to see what The Factory did with The Rafters and how Carney would transition as a director. Carney told such a beautiful story with Once, even managing an Oscar® nomination and then a win. Once was such an imaginative love story about a busker and an immigrant in Dublin.
A young woman Rose (Marcella Plunkett) is consumed by her past that consistently haunts her every thought making it difficult for her to move on and leave the past behind her. She decides to return to the place where all the dark memories have stemmed from, making her way to a guest-house on the Aran Islands. Along the way she acquires two admirers in the form of American backpackers (Killian Scott, Sean Donegan). All three arrive at the house and are shown to separate rooms. Later they hear what sounds like footsteps and furniture moving above their heads where only the attic lies.
An eerie presence looms throughout the house which the boys quickly set aside as they fix their attentions on Rose. Either from boredom, out of callousness or simply due to the lack of women in their age range on the island they decide to hedge their bets to see which one of them can bed the sleep deprived Rose. Each of the boys take turns to woo their unsuspecting plaything while she falls deeper into her own dreamlike world. However, this is more than just a competition between men but also a task in jealously, as there’s slight undertones to suggest that the backpackers are more then just friends!
The film was described as a supernatural drama with nightmarish images and the premise would sit perfectly as short film, but sadly didn't quite gel in the same way as Carney's last efforts. Aesthetically The Rafters looked beautiful and if nothing else it’s a great campaign for Tourism Ireland. The Aran Islands scenes capture an ancient, rural and magical Ireland. The strong lacework of ancient stone walls, wild plants and pallet of grays, blues and greens all create a sense of tone. There is one beautiful shot as Rose looks out over the cliff face as a furious ocean engulfs the limestone rock. It's a shame the premise wasn't elevated to the same degree.
Lynn Larkin
The Rafters, a film directed by John Carney, was reviewed and screened at the Galway Film Fleadh at the Town Hall Theatre on 12th July 2012.
