(Short Film, 2013, Produced by Ink and Light)
Paul is an exciting writing talent who seems to have effortlessly crossed over from exquisite short-story writing to screenwriting. Of course it’s not effortless at all, but Paul has a quiet, unassuming way of being the hardest working, most prolific guy in the room. He is a fantastic collaborator and a joy to work with.
Tamsin Lyons, Producer with Ink and Light
Rich, emotional and beautifully judged filmmaking.
Shortscreen, RTÉ 2
Official Selection 2014 Viewster Online Film Fest
Official Selection 2014 Palm Springs ShortFest
Premiered as part of Shortscreen, RTÉ 2, on March 10th, 2014
Official Selection 2013 Irish Film Festival London
Official Selection 2013 Galway Film Fleadh
Official Selection 2013 Birr Arts Festival
Winner of the 2012 Film Offaly Award
Director: Ruth Meehan
Screenwriter: Paul O’Reilly
Producer: Tamsin Lyons, Ink and Light
Director of Photography: Suzie Lavelle
Editor: Ronan O’Muirgheasa
Cast: Michael Harding, Caitriona Ni Mhurchu, Sophie Scully, Ellie Cummins, Max Keeley, The Davitts
Men and Women follows a nine year old girl over the Christmas of 1979 as her loss of innocence is reflected in her realization that neither Santa nor relations between her parents are what they seem. Based on the short story of the same name from Claire Keegan’s collection Antarctica, a Los Angeles Times Best Book, and recipient of the prestigious Rooney Prize for Irish Literature.
Pat Collins’ Silence was preluded by Ruth Meehan’s Men and Women, a sombre piece about an unhappy couple over the Christmas of 1979. This short film is shown through the eyes of their nine-year-old Roisin (Sophie Scully), and also with her eyes which grow cold as her own tragedy of lost innocence plays out. Sad and gloomy, Men and Women has been put together delicately by Meehan. Subtle scenes direct the audience while not spelling it out for them. There are well judged performances all round but Scully steals the show. Based on a short story of the same name from Clare Keegan’s award-winning collection Antarctica.
Film Ireland Review, Irish Film Festival London
Men and Women is based on a short story of the same name from Claire Keegan’s collection Antarctica, a Los Angeles Times Best Book, and recipient of the prestigious Rooney Prize for Irish Literature.
The film script won the FilmOffaly 2012 Award, which allowed us to bring a talented cast and crew together to brave the cold March weather and shoot the film in Offaly. The colours and textures of the landscape have seen it become a character in the film, and the support of local organisations and residents there has been invaluable.
Our cast includes the superb Michael Harding (Best Actor, Dublin Fringe Festival) and Catriona Ní Mhurchu (Best Supporting Actress nominee at Irish Theatre awards 2012) as parents Dan and Moll.
The short film was adapted by Paul O’Reilly, an award-winning writer who has been shortlisted for the William Trevor Prize and published in the Irish Times.
Director Ruth Meehan’s previous short films have won 15 international awards. Ruth is an experienced TV director who is currently developing her first feature film for the cinema screen. She has also just written a feature film script for the Oscar-winning producer of The King’s Speech.
Tamsin Lyons was a producer at Oscar-winning Breakthru Films for 6 years before establishing her own company Ink and Light in 2011. Her films have premiered at prestigious film festivals including Sundance, Toronto and London, and have been distributed worldwide.
The film is the first Irish film to be shot on the brand new high definition Sony F5 camera, with crew including IFTA-winning cinematographer Suzie Lavelle (The Other Side of Sleep, One Hundred Mornings), Nikki Conor (Cirque du Soleil, Riverdance) and too many other generous people to mention.
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