Kings (I) (2007)

A group of men reunite for a friend's funeral.

Director:

Tom Collins

Writers:

Tom Collins, Jimmy Murphy (play)

Stars:

Colm Meaney, Donal O'Kelly, Brendan Conroy

7 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colm Meaney	...	Joe Mullan
Donal O'Kelly	...	Jap Kavanagh
Brendan Conroy	...	Git Miller
Donncha Crowley	...	Shay Mulligan
Barry Barnes	...	Máirtín Rogers
Seán Ó Tarpaigh	...	Jackie Flaherty
Peadar O'Treasaigh	...	Micil Flaherty
Seán T. Ó Meallaigh	...	Joe Mullan Jnr.
Christopher Greene	...	Jap Jnr.
Graham Feeley	...	Git Jnr.
Ronan Moloney	...	Jackie Jnr.
Simon Drislane	...	Shay Jnr.
Darragh O'Brien	...	Máirtín Jnr.
Gabrielle Reidy	...	Maggie
Cathy Murphy	...	Bridie

Storyline

In the twenty five years they have been there, done that, the Navvy (Irish working man) clock does not stop for alienation or inner despair. They are working men, strong even indestructible. Those gnawing feelings of something not being quite right are ameliorated by the camaraderie of their mates. So what if it all ends in tears or a thumping. They can give as good as they get or used to. At least they are alive and having the craic. Until it all changes, and a silence falls on the reverie of the gang. Tragedy has struck Jackie the youngest, the brightest and the bravest. The gang does what has always been done - they gather together for a Wake, a final celebration, a cheer, to give Jackie Flavin a send off fit for a king, a king of the Kilburn High Road. He, unlike them is set to return to Ireland - his body found bruised and battered on the railway track, crushed by the passing Kilburn train. Jackie's father Micil arrives over to North West London to bring his son home. The gang ...

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Plot Keywords:

funeral | death | friend | accident | first aid | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Ireland UK

Language:

Irish English

Release Date:

10 January 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Newgrange Pictures, Green Park Films, De Facto Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ireland's Official Submission to the Best Foreign Language Film Category of the 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008).

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Connections

Followed by Kings: From the Bogside to the Bright Lights (2008)

User Reviews

Realistic Irish film about a sensitive subject

Saw this at the Stony Brook Film Festival last night and was amazed to find (a) a nearly full house and (b) the audience got it. As an Irishman who lived in London in the 1960's I am well aware of the characters and their sad, difficult lives. (The years were a bit off as the film claimed they emigrated in 1977 - more like 10 years earlier). I had also seen the play it was based on "The Kings of the Kilburn High Road" a few years back. The play, if I recall correctly, is set entirely in the back room of the bar. The acting is first rate and while most of the dialogue is in Irish, with subtitles, it really works. This was a strange experience, to see a film about Irishmen and needing subtitles to understand everything being said. Not surprisingly, Colm Meaney lends heft to the film and the part of Joe. He always does. Well worth seeing although I wonder who the audience is for such a film? There are thousands of Irishmen still in England who lived lives like these poor unfortunates.