Six Shooter (2004)

A black and bloody Irish comedy about a sad train journey where an older man, whose wife has died that morning, encounters a strange and possibly psychotic young oddball....

Director:

Martin McDonagh

Writer:

Martin McDonagh

Stars:

Brendan Gleeson, Rúaidhrí Conroy, David Wilmot

Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Brendan Gleeson	...	Donnelly
Rúaidhrí Conroy	...	Kid (as Ruaidhrí Conroy)
David Wilmot	...	Man
Aisling O'Sullivan	...	Woman
Gary Lydon	...	Chief Guard
Domhnall Gleeson	...	Cashier
David Murray	...	Doctor
Tadgh Conroy	...	Young Kid
David Pearse	...	Short Man
Ann McFarlane	...	Donnelly's Wife
John Wallace	...	Junior Garda
Richard Nisbet	...	Garda
Mick Horan	...	Kid's Dad

Storyline

At the hospital, a doctor gives Donnelly the bad news: his wife of many years has died. He visits her body, placing a photograph of their pet rabbit on her hands. Then, in the early morning light, he leaves and catches a train back home toward Dublin. He sits across from a young talkative man who seems to have a loose screw, making coarse observations, starting an argument with a couple in the next seats who are clearly tense with each other. Over the next few miles, Donnelly learns that all four have lost someone that night, and, in a strange turn of events, the kid bequeaths to Donnelly a gift that may ease his pain. There's a strange bond in grief.

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Plot Keywords:

train | pet | rabbit | grief | photograph | 

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Taglines:

A black and bloody Irish comedy

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 2005 (UK)

Filming Locations:

County Wicklow, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

£125,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Missing in Action Films, Funny Farm Films, Fantastic Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

27 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot on a real train. The crew could shoot on it between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. after which it had to be cleaned for the evening commute.

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Quotes

Donnelly: sorry about your mom.
Kid: Ah, no loss.

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Connections

Edited into Cinema16: European Short Films (2006)

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Soundtracks

"St. James Infirmary Blues"
Written by Joe Primrose
Performed by The White Stripes

User Reviews

McDonagh's parody?

McDonagh is a brilliant story teller and fully deserves his Tony nominations and his Olivier Award for Best Play (The Pillowman). His critics have questioned his use of casual cruelty as a dramatic device, although he always grounds violence in a social context or connects sadism to particular characters' proclivities. This film is beautifully acted by Brendon Gleeson and especially Rúaidhrí Conroy, sharply photographed, and well directed by McDonagh himself. For technique alone it is Oscar-worthy. But the whole piece strikes me as an absurdist joke with insufficient resonance. This is a mélange of destructions, an indulgence in violence that reduces and parodies McDonagh's better scripts.