Exclusive release of 'Knuckle' accompanied by Travellers on Film Season
Exclusive release of Knuckle to be accompanied by Travellers on Film Season at the IFI
Knuckle released from 5th August
Season runs 6th & 7th August
To coincide with the cinema release of Ian Palmer’s visceral new documentary about bare-knuckle boxing in the Traveller community, Knuckle, the IFI will present a programme looking at a range of fictional and non-fictional representations of Travellers on film. The image of the Traveller – carefree, pugnacious, wily or noble – have appeared in Irish and international film since the O’Kalem company made The Vagabonds in Ireland in 1912.
Twelve years in the making, Knuckle follows family rivalries being negotiated through bare-knuckle boxing fights with an exceptional level of trust between filmmaker and the community. Director Ian Palmer isn’t uncritical of these brutal bouts but, like many of the subjects who profess to regret that such fights take place only to join in as participants or enthusiastic supporters, the filmmaker does admit to being drawn into the excitement of the fights – leaving the audience questioning what their own motivations for watching are.
The retrospective season starts with No Resting Place, from 1951 the first feature-length film about Traveller life by British director Paul Rotha. It tells the story of the Kyles family and their plight as they are pursued by a vengeful Gardai after an accidental killing.
Photographer Perry Ogden’s Pavee Lackeen blurs the lines between documentary and fiction in its unflinching account of a resilient and spirited young Traveller in a marginalised community living in extreme poverty in a then prosperous Ireland. Later in the season Liam McGrath’s documentary Southpaw gives a documentary portrait of sporting achievement in Francis Barrett, a 19-year old amateur boxer representing Ireland at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
Traveller (1981) was the debut fiction feature of director Joe Comerford and based on a script by Neil Jordan. A newly-wed couple are forced to head north on a smuggling mission where they become involved with IRA man Clicky. This formally complex drama of stolen goods, incest, republicanism and patricide provides a sympathetic exploration of this much-scapegoated community.
The season’s films and the representation of the community on film generally will be examined at a free but ticketed extended panel discussion Framing Travellers with filmmakers Ian Palmer (Knuckle) and Liam McGrath (Southpaw), actor and writer Michael Collins, and Catherine Joyce (Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group, ITM).
Travellers on Film Season Schedule
Knuckle is released exclusively at the IFI from the 5th August.
No Resting Place 6th August 13.10
Traveller 6th August 15.00
Pavee Lackeen 7th August 12.35
Southpaw 7th August 14.20
Framing Travellers: Panel Discussion 7th August 16.00
Tickets are available from the IFI Box Office 01 679 3477 or online at www.ifi.ie
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Category: News
Where can I get to see the film ‘Knuckles’ which was released tonight? Ive missed the showing in the IFI?!…
Kind regards
D.
Hi DBoy,
‘Knuckle’ is playing in the IFI for 3 weeks
definitely worth catching…
check out their website for screening times
http://www.irishfilm.ie/