January 14 2016, a glorious day for Irish Cinematography – Lenny Abrahamson’s Room and John Crowley’s Brooklyn have been nominated for Best Picture at next month’s Academy Awards.
Our beautiful Saoirse Ronan is nominated for Best Actress for her starring role of Eilis Lacey, while Brooklyn is also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. This is Saoirse’s second Oscar nomination. She was previously nominated for the Best Supporting Actress in Atonement in 2007. Way to go, girl!
Brooklyn is facing competition from The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant, Room and Spotlight.
I won’t write any review here, it is not my forte. I advise you to see the film regardless of your age or gender. I enjoyed every bit of it. A very good quality film, a simple story – but are not the simple stories the most moving and true?
You can watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/15syDwC000k
As I said, I haven’t intended to write a review. I will speak about the time when the film had not existed yet. Well, except for in John Crowley’s head.
Brooklyn is based on a novel by Colm Tóibín, and you can read this very interesting interview he gave to The Guardian. The story begins in a small Irish town of Enniscorthy.
In the end of March 2014 I met an old acquaintance, and he proudly told me that he had been recruited for Brooklyn as they were looking for hundreds of extras. We agreed that I would come over and take some pictures of him. It was arranged for Friday, but on Thursday, I woke up before the sunrise with a strong feeling that if I want to see Saoirse Ronan, I have to go now. So I did, and I was right, because she left for the US the following morning.
I didn’t know the town well, and I had no idea where exactly the filming would take place that day. After struggling through the narrow one-way streets I finally found a big parking lot. ( Advice: when you park in an unfamiliar place, take pictures to show the locals if you happen to get lost).
I walked around the town and spotted some activity in the Court Street. So that was the place!
I took some photos of preparations. The street got new ( vintage) looks: houses were repainted, windows replaced.
The markings on the asphalt were carefully covered. ‘One worker two supervisors’. 😉
More camouflage.
Court Street has never seen so many vintage cars.
I was getting comfortable, but then security guys came over and asked everybody to leave the set. After another half an hour there was a taxi – Saoirse Ronan arrived!
All these pictures are taken from a distance, and their quality is poor, but I was very happy to get a glimpse of our local favorite actress.
Hair stylist is adding the last touch to her perfect hair.
Most of the filming took place inside the house. This is all I have got.
A few seconds of acting.
The man with the props cart was really annoying – he was in front of everything! 🙂 In this photograph you can also see Jim (Domhnall Gleeson), one of the main male characters. As you see, there is no chemistry between Eilis and Jim on the set – no wonder it didn’t work out for them in the movie 😉
Another surprise – Canadian actress Emily Bett Rickards, Felicity from the Arrow, was on the set! Props cart in front of my camera, of course!
Waiting was long, filming lasted about half an hour ( mostly inside the building). Actors left, barriers were removed and I walked through the movie set. Local extras remained standing in their positions, unwilling to return back to reality.
I suddenly realized that I had no clue where my car was.
After a long search and five minutes of embarrassment asking a local by-passer where he thought my car could be, I finally left the town.
I am really glad they have made a good movie.
Marje from KYROSMAGICA nominated me for a Girl Love Blog Challenge. Thank you Marje! We girls have to stick together and support each other! Marje is working on her YA fantasy book, and her blog is a fun and magic place 🙂 Please visit and follow!
Here’s what you do for the #GirlLove Challenge:
- Tell your followers who inspires you, a famous woman who may be dealing with negativity on a daily basis.
- Tell your followers who inspires you in real life, a woman you always interact with.
- Tag five women bloggers who you love. Compliment them and tell them why you love them, and comment under their latest post with the link to your #GirlLove post!
Add the tag ‘Girl Love’ to your post, so we can see them all! Let’s start 2016 with LOVE for each other!
My answers:
- Audrey Hepburn is undoubtedly an inspiration, but there is a less known woman, a blogger Stephanie Nielson, a mother injured and disfigured after a plane crash when she was only 27. Here is her blog.
- In my real life, there are many women who inspire me. Some of them are young, some not really. They are mothers and grandmothers who are living their day-to-day lives not knowing that they are special.
- There are five ladies bloggers I nominate for this challenge. (No obligations – I only want to share your blogs with others )
Poet and author Ellie
Artist Mihaela
Author Teagan
Holistic wayfarer Diana
Author Shehanne
I love what you do!
Have a great week ahead!
Making memories 