Dreams of a Life, a new Irish co-production telling the true story of a woman that society tragically forgot has been nominated for Documentary of the Year by the London Film Critics’ Circle
Exclusively released at the IFI from 6th Jan 2012
Nobody noticed when thirty-eight year old Joyce Vincent died in her bedsit above a small shopping mall in North London in 2003. When her skeleton was discovered three years later, her heating and television were still on. Newspaper reports offered few details of Joyce’s life – not even a photograph. Dreams of a Life is filmmaker Carol Morley’s quest to discover who Joyce was and how she came to be forgotten. Dreams of a Life was produced by Cannon and Morley productions alongside Irish producer James Mitchell of Soho Moon Pictures, with the participation of Bórd Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board, and distributed by Dogwoof.
Morley placed adverts in newspapers, on the Internet and on the side of a London taxi, and discovered Joyce’s former friends, lovers and colleagues. Their testimonies together with reimagined scenes from Joyce’s life (featuring a touching portrayal from rising star Zawe Ashton), form a multi-layered portrait of Joyce, and an insight into the world she inhabited. Dreams of a Life is about a life lived in modern times. It is a film about Joyce Vincent and a film about ourselves; about how much and yet how little we may ever know each other.
The film’s Irish Producer, James Mitchell said ‘More and more of us live in cities. In the Facebook age, we think perhaps we’re more connected. Joyce Vincent’s story, compellingly told by director Carol Morley, asks us – certainly me – many questions. I’m delighted that this first project from my new Irish company, Soho Moon, was co-financed by the Irish Film Board and the new Irish film fund Shoot For The Moon.’
Dreams of a Life is released at the IFI from the 6th-12th January 2012. Director Carol Morley will attend the 18.30 screening on 6th January and participate in a Q+A hosted by Dearbhla Walsh.
Tickets are available from the IFI Box Office on 01 679 3477 or online at www.ifi.ie.
More information and press notes are available from www.dreamsofalife.com .
