Mary Ann Eaton, B.A. in English, Studies in Irish and Celtic Literature from University College Cork, Ireland.
Mary Ann will introduce each film and set its context in pertinent Irish history and culture. A discussion will follow each film.
Four Classes 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
2/27 – Strangerland (2015) (Thriller)
Based on the novel of the same title by Sebastian Barry. Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, Joseph Fiennes.
Newcomers to the remote Australian desert town of Nathgari, Catherine and Matthew Parker’s lives are flung into crisis when they discover their two teenage kids, Tommy and Lily, have mysteriously disappeared just before a massive dust storm hits. With Nathgari eerily smothered in red dust and darkness, the townsfolk join the search led by local cop, David Rae. It soon becomes apparent that something terrible may have happened.
3/6 – THE SECRET SCRIPTURE (Novel)
Based on the novel of the same title by Sebastian Barry.
Rose McNulty, (Vanessa Redgrave) a once vibrant and lively beauty, has spent the majority of her adult life confined to a mental hospital in Ireland. When new chief psychiatrist Dr. Grene arrives, he takes a keen interest in Rose. He finds a hidden memoir, written over the course of decades by Rose, that unravels the mystery of her wartime love, incarceration, and the tale of her passionate, yet tortured, life.
3/13 – THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY (Drama)
Driven by a deep sense of duty and a love for his country, Damien abandons his burgeoning career as a doctor and joins his brother, Teddy in a dangerous and violent fight for freedom. As the Irish freedom fighters bold tactics bring the British to a breaking point, both sides finally agree to a treaty to end the bloodshed. But, despite the apparent victory, civil war erupts and families who fought side by side, find themselves pitted against one another, putting their loyalties to the ultimate test.
3/20 – SONG OF GRANITE (Irish Culture)
Revolves around the life of the great traditional Irish singer, Joe Heaney. The harsh Irish landscape combined with the myths, fables, and songs of his Connemara youth helped shape this fascinating character. Enigmatic and complex, Heaney’s devotion to his art came at a huge personal cost. But by the time of his death in 1984, he was widely recognized as one of the most important figures in Irish traditional music, having won fans and admires from every part of the globe.
