COME ON EILEEN Garners High Praise on the Guardian Film Blog
COME ON EILEEN written and directed by Finola Geraghty has received glowing praise on The Guardian Film Blog this week following it's DVD release in Ireland and the UK earlier this month.
Starring Jackie Howe, Felix Malcolm Still, Mercedes Grower (Revolver) and Stephen Taylor (Kidulthood), the film tells the story of mother and ex-dancer Eileen as she relapses into her troubled past as she starts a new relationship over a summer and she and her family combust.
The blog called COME ON EILEEN "a cracking little micro-budget feature.... with an easy swing to it, using its tight budget well, punching above its weight" and said that the lead performance from Jackie Howe was "heartfelt and touching". The blog maintained that it was infuriating that the film never went on release in UK cinemas and that "it would be great to see Come on Eileen getting an audience, and to see film festivals, and indeed cinemas, presenting Geraghty's future work".
Described by Nick Hornby as "dark, funny and real", the film which is Geraghty's first feature manages to mix humour, pathos, and drama. Featuring a very strong central performance from Jackie Howe, it has great cameos from Keith Allen (Robin Hood), Noel Fielding (The Mighty Boosh), Julia Davis (Gavin & Stacey), and Freddie Jones (The Elephant Man).
Shot on super 16mm over the course of a year in London, the film was produced by Foal Film Productions Ltd and Bl!nder Films with support from Bord Scannán na hEireann/ the Irish Film Board. The film features a terrific soundtrack, including ‘A Queen and a Bridge' and other songs from Kirstenana, winner of Best Female Artist at The People's Music Awards, as well as tracks from The Mighty Stef, John Martyn and of course Dexy's Midnight Runners.