Ciaran Hinds, Natascha Mcelhone and Rufus Sewell star in John Banville’s ‘The Sea’ currently filming in Co. Wexford

Principal photography is underway on The Sea John Banville’s screen adaptation of his critically acclaimed Man Booker Prize winning novel.

Starring Ciaran Hinds (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, There Will Be Blood, Munich), Charlotte Rampling (Melancholia, Never Let Me Go, The Duchess),  Natascha McElhone (TV Series Californication, Solaris, The Truman Show), Rufus Sewell (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Illusionist, A Knight’s Tale), and Sinead Cusack (Eastern Promises, V for Vendetta), the compelling drama also introduces new young talents Missy Keating, Matthew Dillon and Padhraig Parkinson.

After the death of his wife, Max (Hinds) returns to the sea where he spent his childhood summers, provoking a cathartic reflection as the present draws out powerful memories from one fateful summer many years ago – memories of innocent joy, uplifting warmth but also of profound tragedy.  Only an unforeseen revelation will provide a path to redemption and closure.

The Sea is directed by Stephen Brown (feature debut) and produced by Luc Roeg (We Need To Talk About Kevin, Mr Nice) and Michael Robinson of Independent with David Collins (Once) of Samson Films.

Producer Luc Roeg is enthusiastic about the project “I’ve wanted to make a film of John Banville’s haunting and soulful novel for several years and it’s been worth the wait. I’m excited to introduce a new film maker, Stephen Brown, to world cinema and I couldn’t be more delighted with the cast and crew we’ve assembled together with our producing partners at Samson Films. The film has been made possible by the tremendous support we’ve had from Ireland and all our financiers.”

Producer David Collins concurs “We are delighted on a number of fronts, firstly that the film is shooting in Wexford and secondly that we have managed to assemble such a wide range of support from Irish sources to realise this as an ambitious feature film”

Irish novelist John Banville is equally enthused ‘It’s a great thrill that my book is being filmed, and I could not have hoped for a more splendid cast or a better director and crew.’

The Sea is an Independent / Samson Films production in association with Rooks Nest Entertainment, Quicksilver Films, Windmill Lane Pictures and RTE with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the participation of Bord Scannán Na Héireann / The Irish Film Board.  The Executive Producers are Andrew Orr, Philip Herd, Ernest Bachrach, Rebecca Long, Steve Spence, Michael Sackler and Julia Godzinskaya.

Independent Films Sales are handling International Sales and Independent Distribution will release the film theatrically in Ireland and the UK in 2013.

Tags: Ciarán Hinds, The Sea. John Banville

Category: News, Production News