Poitín (1978)

A poteen maker attempts to avoid the attentions of the Gardai in Connemara

Director:

Bob Quinn

Writer:

Colm Bairead

Stars:

Cyril Cusack, Donal McCann, Niall Toibin

Cast

Credited cast:
Cyril Cusack	...	Michil
Donal McCann	...	Labhrás
Niall Toibin	...	Sleamhnan
Mairead Ni Conghaile	...	Máire
Tom Sailí Ó Flaithearta	...	Marcus (as Tomás Ó Flatharta)
Macdara Ó Fatharta	...	Garda
Mick Lally	...	Garda sergeant (as Micheál Ó Maolallaí)
Seán Ó Coisdealbha	...	Óstóir
Tomás MacEoin	...	Amhránaí
Bairbre Uí Dhonncha	...	Bean
Colm Bairéad	...	Feirmeoir
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Johnny Choil Mhaidhc

Storyline

A poteen maker attempts to avoid the attentions of the Gardai in Connemara

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Ireland

Language:

Irish

Release Date:

November 1978 (UK)

Also Known As:

Poteen

Filming Locations:

County Galway, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cine Gael

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film caused a bit of controversy when released. Some people on the west coast of Ireland were appalled at how their lifestyle was displayed as backward, simple-minded and down right rough in appearance. One scene of the film that was the focus of much of the controversy was the 'spud fight' or 'Troid Pratai' scene, which seemed to set in stone negative stereotype that was held on the people of Ireland, but no more so on the west of the country where the film itself was set.

User Reviews

Alcoholism and revenge in the West of Ireland.

Mícheál (Cusack) is an old poitín-maker, distilling illicit spirits near his isolated cottage. His resellers, the shifty Sleamhnam (Toibín) and his dull-witted sidekick, Labhcas (McCann) lose a consignment of poitín to the police, but daringly steal it back. Having told Mícheál that the bottles were lost, they see no need to inform him of their recovery and they pocket the proceeds of the sale for themselves. The fairly simple plot unwinds towards a somewhat predictable end, but it's not unsatisfying. The initial warmth and rustic cheeriness of the opening scenes is gradually replaced by a sense of menace, incoherent anger and hatred, showing the hardship of the lives of people in the West of Ireland at the time. The dialogue is entirely in Irish (Gaelic, not Hiberno-English) and in Cusack and McCann it's a chance to see two of Ireland's finest actors in rare screen perfomances. Worth a look.