Acclaimed Irish Documentary KNUCKLE to Hit US Cinemas This Weekend
Ian Palmer's powerful documentary KNUCKLE which proved a major hit at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where the remake rights were picked up by HBO who plan to turn it into a drama series, is now set for a limited US release from today 9th December.
An epic 12-year journey into in the world of an Irish Traveller community, KNUCKLE takes us inside their brutal, secretive and exhilarating bare-knuckle fighting lives. Chronicling a history of violent feuding between rival families, the story focuses on two brothers as they fight for their reputations and the honour of their family name. Brutal, yet captivating and ultimately moving, this unforgettable documentary offers an exclusive insight into the world of Irish Travellers and the lengths they will go to protect their family name.
The documentary has been garnering much critical acclaim and positive reviews ahead of its US cinema release. Manohla Darguis of The New York Times says "the movie, a no-frills affair from the first-time Irish director Ian Palmer, offers a circumscribed look inside the often-closed world of Irish travelers through their bare-knuckle fistfights. Year after bruising year, Mr. Palmer kept his sights on these grim battles, an epic endeavor that suggests that looking away was never an option."
Joe Neumaier of the New York Daily News describes the film as "astonishing" while Betsy Sharkey of The Los Angeles Times calls the film "as bruising and brutal as any punch."
Other reviews include:
"Brilliantly brutal and intriguingly insightful" Screen International
"An enthralling insight into a raw, bloodied world" Empire Magazine
"Brutally compelling" New York Post
"Epic and exhilarating" Indiewire
KNUCKLE was produced by Teddy Leifer for Rise Films and Ian Palmer for Seafield with finance from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board (IFB) and BBC Storyville.
KNUCKLE goes on release in selected cinemas across the US from Friday, 9th December 2011, distributed by Arc Entertainment/Xlerator Media. It is currently available on DVD in Ireland and the UK and can also be purchased for home entertainment on Volta, iTunes and other platforms (for more details see www.knucklethemovie.com). Revolver Entertainment is distributing the film in UK/Ireland and Content Media is handling international sales.