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The acclaimed documentary ‘John Ford – Dreaming the Quiet Man’ was released in Irish cinemas on the 15th June 2012 by Element Films. It is now available on Amazon UK and can be streamed on Volta in Ireland. Since its Premier at the Cork Film Festival , the film has been wowing audiences in Boston, LA, Toronto, and John Ford’s hometown, Portland Maine. The success of the film was acknowledged when The American Institute honoured the documentary in its ‘Best of Europe Season’ while ‘Culture Ireland’ showcased it in MoMa in New York.

About the Film

In the film, Maureen O’Hara, the last surviving member of the cast, is joined by such luminaries as Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich, Jim Sheridan and John Wayne’s daughter Aissa. The dreamlike landscape of the West of Ireland where ‘The Quiet Man’ was shot, becomes the backdrop for this revealing portrait of Ford’s return to his own mythical ‘Innisfree’.  Extraordinary and never before seen home movie footage of the cast and crew in Ashford Castle contributes to the family-like atmosphere that the film was shot in. Narration is by Gabriel Byrne  and the music score is created by Ger Kiely and Paddy Moloney of ‘The Chieftains‘. The film weaves all these elements together to deliver a powerful insight into John Ford’s most personal film.

Special Screenings

Dan Ford – Sé Merry Doyle – Peter Bogdanovicz

‘John Ford – Dreaming the Quiet Man’ had its Dublin premier on the 9th of June during the  IFTA ‘John Ford Symposium’.  The screening was attended by Peter Bogdanovich, Dan Ford, and Ford’s biographer, Joseph McBride. To cap off all this good news ‘John Ford – Dreaming the Quiet Man’ was given a gala screening on May 25th at the John Wayne birthday celebrations in his hometown, Iowa. The director Sé Merry Doyle is now planning with Element Film to distribute the film in America and to create a one hour TV special. To learn more about this film go to John Ford – Dreaming the Quiet Man

Muintir na Mara Final episode Sunday 29th April 9:30 PM

Pádraig O Duinnín’s journey began in Cork six series ago. Tonight we see him complete his odyssey in Donegal. In this final episode Pádraig goes to Downings Micheál Ó Dochartaigh st the seaside village currach club.  He takes danger in his stride as he rows in his Naomhóg around the notoriously windy Malin Head.

He ends his journey with a well deserved rest at the Culmore regatta on the Derry border. The series was funded by RTE for TG4 and although it was regularly in the top ten rating, the cut backs in RTE meant it had to leave the airwaves. Loopline Film would like to thank all those who watched and in particular we hope that Pádraig will find a new vehicle that will bring him back to our screens in the future. Thank you Pádraig for bringing us on an unforgettable journey.

“Jimmy Murakami – Non Alien” has been selected for a special screening at the Disorient Film Festival in Oregon on the 28th April.  Tule Lake, Northern California, just cross the state line of Oregon, is where the 9 year old Jimmy and his family were interned for 4 years as a result of Japans attack on Pearl Harbor. Although Jimmy went on to  great success  as an Animation filmmaker  with classics like “Snowman” and “When the Wind Blows” he never recovered from his childhood ordeal. Jimmy turned his back on America and has been living with his family in Ireland for the last forty years.

In “Jimmy Murakami – Non Alien” he confronts his past by joining the annual pilgrimage to  Tule Lake alongside other survivors and their children. Jimmy created  a special series of painting for the film that capture his childhood memories of the camp. One of the high points of the film is when the paintings comes to life in animation and create a haunting backdrop to Jimmy’s quest to make sense of the injustice that was directed at the Japanese American citizens.  The film also features an interview with Jimmy’s brother James T. Murakami who also works in the movie business, most notably as a Production Designer with Clint Eastwood. The film was acclaimed at it premier  in the Dublin Film Festival and won “Directors Choice Award” at the Sacramento Film Festival.

Muintir na Mara Episode 5

In this series Pádraig Ó Duinnín, a boat builder from Cork. travels by boat, bicycle and van around the stunning coast of Donegal.This week Pádraig goes from Bunbeg to Tory and stops off along the way at Bloody Foreland to take in the magnificant views and reflect on his journey so far.

At the start of the prgramme, he arrives at a boat shed and meets Eddie Mac Aoidh and Owenie Diver who are re-skinning a currach. The currach has sentimental value for Eddie, as it was his dad’s; he also brought the teacher across to the island on it when he was young, as the teacher came over for the first time. Pádraig and the two men talk about the boats and what makes them unique and just as Pádraig is about to leave Owen ask if he can come out in the currach with him. So, on a wet and blustery day, they set out from Bunbeg pier.Next up for Pádraig is a bit of space to reflect on his journey so far ans he stops to spend a little time at Bloody Foreland, a most magnificent place jutting out to sea. is so called because the sun, particularly at evening, lights up the rocks to a reddish hue.. The views from here of Árainn Mór, Gabhla to Tory Island and Horn Head and the play of light on coast, on water and the wild beauty of the place make it a wonderful spot for Pádraig to rest.

After this, he moves on to the currach races at Magheroarty and chats with Joanne Ní Bhaoill and Annette Diver, who tell him about their love of the currachs and the racing and what they have achieved since taking it up as a sport. Then, it’s over to Inisboffin where he meets up with John O’Brien and Maurice Coll. They chat about the island and fishermans’ rights and what needs to be done now to protect them and their livelihoods. Finally, he takes the ferry to Tory and has a cycle around the island, looking for the very particular boats associated with the island. He meets Bobby Doohan at the slip and after they chat for a while about Bobby’s life and adventures at sea, they head out in Bobby’s boat for a row around.