Sinead O'Shea's documentary on Edna O'Brien for Solstice screenings this week
Two showings of 'Blue Road' in filmmaker's hometown
Solstice Arts Centre's newly upgraded sound system boasts a technical specification comparable to the National Concert Hall in Dublin, which transforms the venue into a cinematically immersive, technically advanced space that competes with the best in the country — not just as a concert venue, but as a truly world-class film presentation space.
This facility will be put to good use next week, with two showings of Sinead O'Shea's 'Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story', on Monday 12th and on Wednesday 14th May, both at 7.30pm, opening the new summer cinema season.
The documentary from the Navan native filmmaker sees Irish writer Edna O'Brien recount her controversial life, novels, love affairs, and stardom through personal journals read by actress Jessie Buckley, with perspectives from Gabriel Byrne, Walter Mosley and an array of renowned writers.
Blue Road received its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last September and was the opening night film of the DOC NYC Festival in New York City. The work is described as "a candid portrait of one of the world's greatest and most charismatic writers". "Her books were banned and burned in her native Ireland," the synopsis continues.
"In London and New York, she had illicit love affairs, hosted star-studded parties, and made and lost a fortune. In her final year, aged 93, she shares her diaries and gives one last interview to filmmaker Sinéad O'Shea about her extraordinary life."
On its Irish premiere, it won the Audience Award (Features) at the Cork International Film Festival, as well as the Best New Irish Feature.
The jury commented: “This film stands out for its masterful storytelling, which is both sensitive and evocative, offering a heartfelt yet humorous exploration of Edna O’Brien’s remarkable life and literary legacy.”
The movie has just opened in UK cinema houses, where it is on tour until 23rd May. It passed the 200,000 audience figures following its opening in the UK earlier this month.
On Friday evening, the Irish-Palestine Solidarity Fundraiser will host a screening of 'The Wanted 18', followed by a panel discussion.
Humorous and thought-provoking, The Wanted 18 is a documentary following the story of 18 dairy cows declared a threat to Israel’s national security after a group of Palestinians begin producing milk for their town’s residents. This screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign chairwoman Zoë Lawlor, Senator Frances Black, Rebecca O'Keeffe (Irish Sport for Palestine), and Mayor of Navan Eddie Fennessy.
Also showing in May is 'The Brutalist' on Wednesday 28th. When visionary architect László Toth (Oscar winner Adrien Brody) and his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of modern America, their lives are changed forever by a wealthy client who commissions László to design a grand modernist monument in this enthralling epic. This film contains a 15-minute intermission.
For film, sound is just as vital as image, and with an L-acoustics system, Solstice Arts Centre ensures that every screening is experienced as the creators intended.