Fintan Connolly
Encyclopedia
Fintan Connolly is an Irish
film director, screenwriter and producer living in Dublin.
Most of his work has been in television documentaries, where he explores social issues in Ireland through a series of interviews.
He has also made films, notably Flick (2000) and Trouble with Sex
(2005) through his production company The Picture House.
He co-produced, with Helen Fahy, the short movie Horse (1993) directed by Kevin Liddy.
This film won an award for "Best European Short" at the Premiers Plan Festival in Angers, France in 1994.
Working with co-director Hilary Dully, he worked on multiple television documentaries for RTÉ
, Channel 4
and TG4
. These include Framed! (1987), No Comment (1988, social problems in Northern Ireland), ...and finally France (1988), For Better Or Worse (1989), No Comment II (1991), Notice To Quit (1992, rights of older tenants), 50,000 Secret Journeys (1994, abortion), and Comely Maidens (1995). As a single director, Connolly has directed the documentaries Sisters (1998), Priests (1998), Out Of Nowhere (2000, asylum seekers), Ainé’s Journey (2000) and Singleton (2002).
Connolly made his feature film
directorial debut with Flick in 2000 in conjunction with Fiona Bergin.
The film starred David Murray, Isabelle Menke, David Wilmot
, Gerard Mannix Flynn and Catherine Punch.
The plot, which focuses on two small-time drug dealers, is based upon Connolly's own experiences in Dublin.
Connolly wrote the film's script with little expectation of it being made.
He shot the film in 18 days with no budget.
The movie had its world premiere at the 44th Murphy's Cork Film Festival
in October 1999.
It received mixed reviews.
This was followed in 2005 by Trouble with Sex
, starring Aidan Gillen
and Renée Weldon, for which he received two Irish Film and Television Awards
nominations.
The film tells the story of a young career woman who quarrels with her boyfriend at a party.
She leaves the party and goes to a local bar to find relief, where she falls for the bartender.
The movie follows the early days of the relationship that follows.
Trouble with Sex was the second feature created through a director/producer partnership between Fintan Connolly and Fiona Bergin.
In 2004 he began work on a documentary about Aosdána
, an Irish association of artists.
This film explores the position of artists in Irish society and the problems of obtaining public funding, as well as broader issues of creativity and culture.
referred to the films Flick and Trouble with Sex as "Irish noir fiction", saying "Fintan Connolly’s movies Flick and Trouble with Sex depict a thoroughly noir-looking Dublin full of moody shadows and drenched in blue light, but there is no corresponding heart of darkness in the plot."
A critic said of Trouble with Sex "This story of Boy Meets Girl, Girl Loses Boy, Boy Reconciles With Girl is an old, old, old one and regrettably, Trouble With Sex has nothing new to add to it".
Another reviewer said "The film vacillates between modes of melodrama and avant-gardism, unsure what kind of film it is" and described it as "uninspiring".
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
film director, screenwriter and producer living in Dublin.
Most of his work has been in television documentaries, where he explores social issues in Ireland through a series of interviews.
He has also made films, notably Flick (2000) and Trouble with Sex
Trouble With Sex
Trouble with Sex is a 2005 Irish drama film set in Dublin and co-written and directed by Fintan Connolly. It stars Aidan Gillen and Renée Weldon, who won an Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Trouble With Sex. The film got poor reviews and was...
(2005) through his production company The Picture House.
Career
Connolly directed the short film Angel on the Rocks in 1985.He co-produced, with Helen Fahy, the short movie Horse (1993) directed by Kevin Liddy.
This film won an award for "Best European Short" at the Premiers Plan Festival in Angers, France in 1994.
Working with co-director Hilary Dully, he worked on multiple television documentaries for RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
, Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
and TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
. These include Framed! (1987), No Comment (1988, social problems in Northern Ireland), ...and finally France (1988), For Better Or Worse (1989), No Comment II (1991), Notice To Quit (1992, rights of older tenants), 50,000 Secret Journeys (1994, abortion), and Comely Maidens (1995). As a single director, Connolly has directed the documentaries Sisters (1998), Priests (1998), Out Of Nowhere (2000, asylum seekers), Ainé’s Journey (2000) and Singleton (2002).
Connolly made his feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
directorial debut with Flick in 2000 in conjunction with Fiona Bergin.
The film starred David Murray, Isabelle Menke, David Wilmot
David Wilmot
David Wilmot was a U.S. political figure. He was a sponsor and eponym of the Wilmot Proviso which aimed to ban slavery in land gained from Mexico in the Mexican-American War of 1846–1848. Wilmot was a Democrat, a Free Soiler, and a Republican during his political career...
, Gerard Mannix Flynn and Catherine Punch.
The plot, which focuses on two small-time drug dealers, is based upon Connolly's own experiences in Dublin.
Connolly wrote the film's script with little expectation of it being made.
He shot the film in 18 days with no budget.
The movie had its world premiere at the 44th Murphy's Cork Film Festival
Cork Film Festival
The Cork Film Festival is a film festival held annually in Cork City, Ireland. It was established in 1956 and has grown to be an internationally recognised festival, particularly in the area of short films....
in October 1999.
It received mixed reviews.
This was followed in 2005 by Trouble with Sex
Trouble With Sex
Trouble with Sex is a 2005 Irish drama film set in Dublin and co-written and directed by Fintan Connolly. It stars Aidan Gillen and Renée Weldon, who won an Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Trouble With Sex. The film got poor reviews and was...
, starring Aidan Gillen
Aidan Gillen
Aidan Gillen is an Irish stage and screen actor and television presenter. He is known in Ireland for his role in Love/Hate, in the UK for his role in Queer as Folk and in the US for his role in HBO's television series The Wire in which he plays Tommy Carcetti and for his role in Game of Thrones as...
and Renée Weldon, for which he received two Irish Film and Television Awards
Irish Film and Television Awards
The Irish Film and Television Awards were first awarded in 2003. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland's notably talented film and television community...
nominations.
The film tells the story of a young career woman who quarrels with her boyfriend at a party.
She leaves the party and goes to a local bar to find relief, where she falls for the bartender.
The movie follows the early days of the relationship that follows.
Trouble with Sex was the second feature created through a director/producer partnership between Fintan Connolly and Fiona Bergin.
In 2004 he began work on a documentary about Aosdána
Aosdána
Aosdána is an Irish association of Artists. It was created in 1981 on the initiative of a group of writers and with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. Membership, which is by invitation from current members, is limited to 250 individuals; before 2005 it was limited to 200...
, an Irish association of artists.
This film explores the position of artists in Irish society and the problems of obtaining public funding, as well as broader issues of creativity and culture.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Angel on the Rocks | Director | 20 minutes short film |
| 1993 | Horse | Producer | 30 minutes short film |
| 2000 | Flick | Director, writer | 82 Minutes crime drama |
| 2000 | Country | Associate producer | 92 minutes drama |
| 2005 | Trouble with Sex | Director, co-writer | 100 minutes drama |
Recognition
The Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
referred to the films Flick and Trouble with Sex as "Irish noir fiction", saying "Fintan Connolly’s movies Flick and Trouble with Sex depict a thoroughly noir-looking Dublin full of moody shadows and drenched in blue light, but there is no corresponding heart of darkness in the plot."
A critic said of Trouble with Sex "This story of Boy Meets Girl, Girl Loses Boy, Boy Reconciles With Girl is an old, old, old one and regrettably, Trouble With Sex has nothing new to add to it".
Another reviewer said "The film vacillates between modes of melodrama and avant-gardism, unsure what kind of film it is" and described it as "uninspiring".
Awards and nominations
- 2005, Irish Film and Television AwardsIrish Film and Television AwardsThe Irish Film and Television Awards were first awarded in 2003. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland's notably talented film and television community...
nomination for 'Best Director' for Trouble With SexTrouble With SexTrouble with Sex is a 2005 Irish drama film set in Dublin and co-written and directed by Fintan Connolly. It stars Aidan Gillen and Renée Weldon, who won an Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Trouble With Sex. The film got poor reviews and was... - 2005, Irish Film and Television Awards nomination for 'Best Film' for Trouble With Sex