Lets get into Day 4

The day started with David Hammond’s, The Magic Fiddle from 1997.First released in 1991, the film goes around the world to explore the deep love of the fiddle. From scholars in technique and the history of the violin to the type of people who may play trad in your local, the film features people from all walks of life. A film that could unite all people, if you get a chance to watch it, Iwouldn’t miss out!

Then over to Ulster Museum for a touching and thrilling film. RANSOM ‘79. Yesterday we also got the chance to watch the brilliant Ransom ‘79, by Colm Quinn. The film tells the story of an attempted heist in Ireland in 1974, but much further than that, it’s a deeply touching tribute to legendary journalist, Charlie Bird. Charlie was known for breaking Ireland’s biggest stories, eventually working as the Chief News Correspondent for RTÉ. Unfortunately, in 2021, Charlie was diagnosed with MND, which took away his voice, but not his incredible spirit and passion. Charlie had discovered the story of this heist after forty years of it being kept secret, and was determined to break the story, knowing it would be his last. The film weaves an incredible tale using interviews and reconstructions of the bizarre case. The film is touching and thrilling, you’ll be on the edge of your seat with a tissue in your hand.

Keep those tissues out we’re heading to another beautiful hard-hitting film at the QFT, yesterday we saw the beaitful and brave, DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER. In this film, large-scale outdoor painter Abestos, takes on an artistic challenge of a different type of scale, in responding to his mother Helena’s, Alzheimer’s. We see typical of the condition it is worsening over time, with the doctor telling his father that she won’t be able to do things for herself as it progresses. Time is precious, and although through terrible circumstances it seems to pull everything into perspective and give the artist a new vision of his parents and evolve their relationship. So he does as any creative person must and responds with his art.

Throughout the film, he draws on blackboards with chalk from photographs, significant to his mother. We imagine photographs as the literal actual physical embodiment of memories, tangible snapshots of something so worth remembering, you took out a camera and dedicated some film, or these days some MB toward it. It might be said then that photos are only meaningful with context, it’s why photos of the sunset on your holiday are special to you but just the sky to someone else. As Helena’s memories fade, photos of important events become photos of someone else’s life, but this is why art, image, and photography ARE important. The photos and the memories, while losing meaning for Helena, matter intensely for her family who takes on the burden of memory for her, and as you watch the film, you will too, you will remember her and her life.

See a link to our full review here

Strike up the band, we headed to two musical events…

Last night was a night of wonder and music, as we got to see blur: To The End. The film follows the band’s return after a long hiatus, coming back together to record an album and tour, finishing with their first ever show in Wembley. A very personal look into the band’s lives, the film shows how each has changed since their time apart, and how very little changes in their love and relationships for each other, even if they haven’t spoken in years. The film never shies away from showing the struggles the band has, growing older and facing their own mortality, alcohol and drug problems, injuries and everything else. The audience is welcome to see all. We see the band own up to past mistakes, some of them now living alone or with anxiety, it’s heartwarming to see that they can come back to each other and always have each other, even if they aren’t the best communicators, in their own words. To see their sold-out performance at Wembley at the end of the film feels like an absolute triumph. For Blur mega fans, it’s a must-watch, and for Blur haters, don’t go see it because you’ll become everything you hate… a Blur fan.

WE ENDED OUR NIGHT RELIGIOUSLY.

As the sun set on the Solstice last night, we gathered in Rosemary Street Church for a life shifting event, Womenfolk. Combining archive footage and live singers, the whole room was connected in laughter and amazement. The first film was David Hammond’s film on Sarah Makem, finishing off Docs Ireland’s celebration of the amazing filmmaker. Next, we saw some rare footage of Maggie Barry, a folk singer and banjo player from Cork. We got to see her sing, as well as her interviews, which had the church alive with laughter. Following her up was Catriona Ní Ghribín, who performed songs she had collected from her home county, Donegal, which was absolutely beautiful to have the chance to hear. After another round of beautiful, rare archive footage, Róis took to the stage for a mind-blowing performance, mixing electronic music with traditional Irish folk songs

The event was extremely special and something we shall cherish, it was the closest thing to a religious experience, a non-religious person could have.

NOW LET US LOOK AHEAD, DEAR READER.

Looking ahead to today, there are some incredible events going on, including the Cave of Forgotten Dreams from 2010, this is special for two reasons, it’ll be in the Avenue Cinema at 2:15 PM in 3-D!!!!!! And it’s a Werner Herzog film! As followers of our Instagram will know, Herzog is a personal friend of the show, and in his film, he goes into a cave, of forgotten dreams… in 3-D… ENOUGH SAID!

Then over to something we can’t wait to see, the incredible, The Black and The Green, from renowned documentarian, St. Clair Bourne. It follows five black civil rights activists as they visit Belfast in the 1980s. Sure to be a very interesting watch over at the QFT at 5:15 PM.

Next, the incredible 2023 film, Hollywoodgate from Ibrahim Nash’at, again on at QFT, it shows at 7:00PM. This documentary is somewhat unbelievable, the access he has to the Taliban is unprecedented. It’s truly eye-opening about the situation within Afghanistan since the US Army pulled out suddenly in 2021.

This will keep you on the edge of your seat, mainly because, the filmmaker could’ve been killed at any point by his subjects,Finally, the competition shorts will be showing across tomorrow in the QFT. An exciting range of new interesting and powerful short films. If there are any film buffs out there this is a great way to see amazing films by both up-and-coming and already established filmmakers… It’ll get them Letterboxd numbers up too. Great aul’ stuff.

-Love, love, love, Best Boy.

Read our full round-up here