Intermission (2003)

A variety of losers in Dublin have harrowingly farcical intersecting stories of love, greed and violence.

Director:

John Crowley

Writer:

Mark O'Rowe

Stars:

Colin Farrell, Cillian Murphy, Kelly Macdonald

6 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Farrell	...	Lehiff
Kerry Condon	...	Café Waitress
Johnny Thompson	...	Old Man in Café
Emma Bolger	...	Child with Ice Cream
Deirdre Molloy	...	Woman in Shopping Mall
Cillian Murphy	...	John
Brían F. O'Byrne	...	Mick
Derry Power	...	Elderly Man on Bus
David Wilmot	...	Oscar
Owen Roe	...	Mr. Henderson
Neilí Conroy	...	Helen
Kelly Macdonald	...	Deirdre
John Rogan	...	Alfred
Tom Farrelly	...	George
Gerry Moore	...	Seamus Ruane

Storyline

Intermission is an urban love story about people adrift and their convoluted journeys in the search for some kind of love. When the desperately insecure and emotionally inarticulate John breaks up with Deirdre to 'give her a little test' his plan backfires leaving her broken-hearted and him alone and miserable. Through chance and coincidence, their break-up triggers a roller coaster ride of interweaving escapades in the lives of everyone around them. Intermission presents a slice of life, the passage between breaking up and making up, exploring how our lives intersect, and the power we all possess to affect the lives of those around us.

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Plot Keywords:

love | break up | girl | dancing | robbery | 

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Taglines:

Small town delinquents. Shady cops. Pretty good girls. And very, very, bad boys.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence

Details

Official Sites:

Golem [Spain] IFC Films [United States]

Country:

Ireland UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 August 2003 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Dialeimma

Filming Locations:

County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$104,237 (Australia) (4 June 2004)

Gross:

$107,343 (Australia) (4 June 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brown Sauce Film Productions, Bórd Scannán na hÉireann, Company of Wolves

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min 102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title derives from John describing his breakup with Deirdre.

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Quotes

Jerry Lynch: You just don't have the requisite Celtic soul, man.

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Crazy Credits

There is an extra scene during the credits showing Noeleen and Sam, who have presumably gotten back together. Noeleen is pestering Sam about changing the TV channel, and her nagging manner may give a hint why Sam left her in the first place.

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Connections

References Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

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Soundtracks

"Body Talk"
Words and Music by Jolley, John, Swain and Ingram
Published by Sony/ATV Music, in arrangement with Elliot M Cohen for R & B Division and Universal Music Publishing Ltd
Performed by Imagination
Courtesy of The R & B Division Ltd

User Reviews

demanding but rewarding offbeat comedy

You may develop a slight case of whiplash while watching "Intermission," but it will be a small enough price to pay for the pleasure of the experience. This is a fascinating film that ingeniously weaves together a myriad of overlapping stories whose common thread is life among the Irish working class.

The screenplay focuses on a group of seemingly unrelated people whose lives crisscross and intersect in so well crafted a way that, as the story develops, a fully connected narrative soon emerges. Through a carefully thought-out structure and pattern, writer Mark O'Rowe and director John Crowley create order out of seeming disorder, and the overlaps never feel pre-fabricated or contrived - until the end that is, and then the contrivance is used for comic effect. The overarching theme of the piece is an examination of the subtleties and complexities that make up human interactions and human relationships. There are people here from all walks of life, yet they are basically united in their desire for love, commitment and acceptance from their fellow man. A few of them veer towards the criminal and/or violent side of life but most are just ordinary Joes (and Janes) trying to make the best of the lives they've been handed. This is one of those films in which the good people triumph over their failings, the not-so-good ones get the chance to make things right, and the irredeemable ones get their richly deserved comeuppance in the end.

Colin Farrell, playing a violent, two-bit hoodlum, is the only "name" member of the cast, but the film boasts a whole gallery of fine actors and actresses who deliver heartfelt, winning performances. The film is filled with humor and sentiment and just enough action and violence to keep the whole thing contemporary and cutting edge (with the usual nod to "Pulp Fiction," of course).

The real joy of the film lies in putting yourself in the hands of the filmmakers and letting them take you wherever it is they want you to go. The trip, I promise you, will be a rewarding one.

And you'll barely feel that whiplash.