Strength and Honour
Encyclopedia
Strength and Honour is a boxing film that was shot in Cork
, Ireland
. Filming took place in the city and county including Kinsale, Rochestown, Passage West and the un-opened maternity ward of the Cork University Hospital
as well as the new airport.
The film had its market premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2007, and won the "Best Picture" and "Best Actor" awards at the Boston Film Festival.
It was released on the 20th of November 2007 in Ireland and was tested on a limited capacity in the United States on the 7th of December 2007. It was given a 15A rating in Ireland.
After the U.S. testing, the film was re-cut taking 13 minutes off it.
In 2009, the Film was selected to screen at the Writers Guild of America and received a review in the Los Angeles Times that described it as 'another Slumdog Millionaire
'. Later the same year, Michael Madsen
and Mark Mahon
appeared on the TODAY show in New York, as there was such strong word of mouth about the Film.
On March 17, 2010, Mark Mahon and the film’s main cast were invited by Prince Albert of Monaco to a private Royal screening at the Palace of Monaco.
The film's tagline was: Wounds Heal, Scars Fade, Hope is for Everyone".
Strength and Honour is a story of hope and love, sacrifice and devotion, set against the violent underground world of Irish
bare-knuckle boxing.
The film received largely negative reviews on both its American and Irish releases. It was released on the 20th of November 2007 in Ireland and was tested on a limited capacity in the United States on the 7th of December 2007. Mark Mahon was nominated for an I.F.T.A. (Irish Film and Television Academy Award) for his efforts. It was given a 15A rating in Ireland. After the U.S. testing, the film was re-cut taking 13 minutes off it. The film currently holds a 'rotten'
rating at Rotten Tomatoes with only 6% of critics giving it a positive review.
Strength and Honour also had official selections from film festivals all across the globe, including selection for some of the world's most prestigious non-competitive festivals such as Cairo, Cambridge, Portugal, Moscow, Rome, Seville and Shanghai. A great honour was the Film's selection by the Beijing Olympics Committee for their Sports Film Screening Week in 2008.
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Ireland
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...
. Filming took place in the city and county including Kinsale, Rochestown, Passage West and the un-opened maternity ward of the Cork University Hospital
Cork University Hospital
Cork University Hospital , abbreviated as CUH, is the largest university teaching hospital in Ireland and is the only Level 1 trauma centre in the country due to the presence of over 40 different medical and surgical specialties on the campus. It is operated by the Health Service Executive...
as well as the new airport.
The film had its market premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2007, and won the "Best Picture" and "Best Actor" awards at the Boston Film Festival.
It was released on the 20th of November 2007 in Ireland and was tested on a limited capacity in the United States on the 7th of December 2007. It was given a 15A rating in Ireland.
After the U.S. testing, the film was re-cut taking 13 minutes off it.
In 2009, the Film was selected to screen at the Writers Guild of America and received a review in the Los Angeles Times that described it as 'another Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British epic romantic drama adventure film directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and co-directed in India by Loveleen Tandan. It is an adaptation of the novel Q & A by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup...
'. Later the same year, Michael Madsen
Michael Madsen
Michael Søren Madsen is an American actor, poet, and photographer. He has appeared in more than 150 films, most of them small independent films, though he has starred in central roles in such films as Reservoir Dogs, Free Willy, Donnie Brasco, and Kill Bill, in addition to a supporting role in Sin...
and Mark Mahon
Mark Mahon
Mark Mahon is an Irish film director, writer and producer from Cork city, Ireland.At the age of twenty two, Mark was severely injured in an accident and had to spend several months in hospital recovering. During this time, he turned his love of acting and his passion for the industry to writing...
appeared on the TODAY show in New York, as there was such strong word of mouth about the Film.
On March 17, 2010, Mark Mahon and the film’s main cast were invited by Prince Albert of Monaco to a private Royal screening at the Palace of Monaco.
The film's tagline was: Wounds Heal, Scars Fade, Hope is for Everyone".
Plot
Strength and Honour tells the story of an Irish-American boxer, Sean Kelleher (Michael Madsen), who accidentally kills his friend in the ring and promises his wife that he will never box again. However, years later, when he discovers that his only son is dying of the same hereditary heart disorder which has taken his wife, he is forced to break his promise in order to raise the substantial funds needed for the surgery that could save his son’s life.Strength and Honour is a story of hope and love, sacrifice and devotion, set against the violent underground world of Irish
bare-knuckle boxing.
Cast
- Michael MadsenMichael MadsenMichael Søren Madsen is an American actor, poet, and photographer. He has appeared in more than 150 films, most of them small independent films, though he has starred in central roles in such films as Reservoir Dogs, Free Willy, Donnie Brasco, and Kill Bill, in addition to a supporting role in Sin...
... Sean Kelleher - Vinnie JonesVinnie JonesVincent Peter "Vinnie" Jones is an English film actor and retired Welsh footballer.Born in Hertfordshire, England, Jones represented and captained the Welsh national football team, having qualified via a Welsh grandparent. He also previously played for Chelsea and Leeds United. As a member of the...
... Smasher O'Driscoll - Patrick BerginPatrick BerginPatrick Connolly Bergin is an Irish actor and singer. He may be best-known internationally for playing the menacing husband of Julia Roberts' character in the thriller Sleeping with the Enemy and is also known for his role as Irish terrorist Kevin O'Donnell in the film adaption of Patriot Games....
... Papa Boss - Richard ChamberlainRichard ChamberlainGeorge Richard Chamberlain is an American actor of stage and screen who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show Dr. Kildare .-Early life:...
... Denis O'Leary - Gail Fitzpatrick ... Mammy McGrath
- Michael Rawley ... Chaser McGrath
- Michael Kelleher Jr. ... Luke Whelton
- Chosky Boss ... Finbar Furey
- Coco McGrath ... Sheridan Mahon
- Baby McGrath ... Krystal Mahon
- Barry Leacy ... Myles Horgan
- Fixer Ward ... Michael Galvin
- Gary Cashman ... Blackie
Reception
The film received largely negative reviews on both its American and Irish releases. It was released on the 20th of November 2007 in Ireland and was tested on a limited capacity in the United States on the 7th of December 2007. Mark Mahon was nominated for an I.F.T.A. (Irish Film and Television Academy Award) for his efforts. It was given a 15A rating in Ireland. After the U.S. testing, the film was re-cut taking 13 minutes off it. The film currently holds a 'rotten'
rating at Rotten Tomatoes with only 6% of critics giving it a positive review.
Awards
It then went on to win the followings awards:- won the "Best Picture" and "Best Actor" awards at the Boston Film Festival
- Winner – Festival Prize – 23rd Boston Film Festival
- Winner – Best Feature – 23rd Boston Film Festival
- Winner – Michael Madsen, Best Actor – 23rd Boston Film Festival
- Winner – Best Feature – 2008 Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival
- Winner – Michael Madsen, Best Actor – 2008 Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival
- Winner – Best Feature – 2008 New York International Film Festival
- Winner – Best Director – 2008 New York International Film Festival
- Winner – Michael Madsen, Best Actor – 2008 New York International Film Festival
- Winner – Best Score – 2008 New York International Film Festival
- Winner – 56th Annual Columbus International Film Festival (Chris Awards)
- Winner – Best American Independent Feature – 2008 Mount Shasta International Film Festival
- Winner – Best Performance in a Feature – 2008 Mount Shasta International Film Festival
- Winner – Best Foreign Feature – 2008 International Action On Film Festival
- Winner – Best Director – 2008 International Action On Film Festival
- Winner – Best Screenplay – 2008 Alan J. Bailey Excellence Award
- Winner – Best Supporting Actor – 2008 Alan J. Bailey Excellence Award
- Winner – Best Soundtrack – 2008 Malibu International Film Festival
- Winner – Best Picture – 2008 Apra Foundation for Film, Music and Art (AFFMA)
- Winner – Best Director – 2008 23rd Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
- Writers Guild of America Selection in Pete Hammond’s Screening Series
- Winner – Best Picture – 2009 Aurora Awards
- Winner – Best Picture – 2009 Moscow Sports Film Festival
Strength and Honour also had official selections from film festivals all across the globe, including selection for some of the world's most prestigious non-competitive festivals such as Cairo, Cambridge, Portugal, Moscow, Rome, Seville and Shanghai. A great honour was the Film's selection by the Beijing Olympics Committee for their Sports Film Screening Week in 2008.