That They May Face The Rising Sun

Introduced by the Director Pat Collins
Screening Sunday 26th May 6pm
The Park in Schull

Capturing a year in the life of a rural, lakeside community in Ireland in the 1970’s, acclaimed Irish director Pat Collin’s new film That They May Face the Rising Sun is an adaptation of the final novel from John McGahern, one of Ireland’s greatest novelists. The film stars Barry Ward and Anna Bederke in the lead roles. Lalor Roddy, Sean McGinley, Ruth McCabe and first-time actor Phillip Dolan make up the rich supporting cast including Brendan Conroy.

Joe and Kate Ruttledge have returned from London to live and work among the small, close-knit community near to where Joe grew up. Now deeply embedded in life around the lake, the drama of a year in their lives and those of the memorable characters around them unfolds through the rituals of work, play and the passing seasons as this enclosed world becomes an everywhere.

Pat Collins is a remarkably talented Irish film director whose work masterfully captures the essence of Irish cultural identity and heritage. His unique blend of documentary realism and poetic sensibility creates deeply immersive and contemplative films. Notably, his film "Song of Granite" beautifully encapsulates the life of folk singer Joe Heaney, showcasing Collins’s ability to weave complex narratives that resonate with the audience. His latest film That They May Face the Rising Sun has won many awards including The Best Irish Film at the 2023 Dublin International Film Festival and Best Film at the 2024 Irish Film and Television Awards.