Shadow Dancer (2012)

Set in 1990s Belfast, an active member of the IRA becomes an informant for MI5 in order to protect her son's welfare.

Director:

James Marsh

Writers:

Tom Bradby (screenplay), Tom Bradby (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson

8 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barry Barnes	...	Gerry Senior
Maria Laird	...	Young Collette
Ben Smyth	...	Sean
Brid Brennan	...	Ma
Jamie Scott	...	Young Gerry
Bradley Burke	...	Young Connor
Andrea Riseborough	...	Collette
Daniel Tatarsky	...	Watcher 1
Tom Bennett	...	Watcher 2
Nia Gwynne	...	Female Watcher
Jason Stalkey	...	Agent 1 (as Jason Salkey)
Nicholas Asbury	...	Agent 2
Clive Owen	...	Mac
Morgan Watkins	...	MI5 Officer
Cathal Maguire	...	Mark

Storyline

In 1993, the IRA member Collette is arrested in the London tube after leaving a bomb in the facility. MI-5 Agent Mac offers a deal to Collette to become an informer. She accepts the agreement to protect her son and in return Mac offers a new identity to her after a period working for the MI-5. Soon Mac learns that his superior Kate Fletcher is using Collette to protect her mole inside the Irish organization. Mac tries to find the identity of the informer and protect Collette.

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Plot Keywords:

ira | spy | christmas tree | child killed | year 1993 | 

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Taglines:

Collette McVeigh - Mother, Daughter, Sister, Spy.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violent content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 2012 (UK)

Also Known As:

Agente C - Dupla Identidade

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$319,337 (United Kingdom), 24 August 2012, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,672, 2 June 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$99,134, 28 July 2013

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films,Element Pictures,Irish Film Board

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rebecca Hall was the first choice to play Colette.

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Goofs

In the police station Windows 95 (released in 1995) is shown several times on computer monitors. The movie is set in 1993.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Connor: [to his sister following an assassination] It's Done!

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Connections

Featured in Projector: Shadow Dancer (2012)

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Soundtracks

Night Whispers
Composed by Simon Tindale, Joel Bevan and George Robertson
Published by Focus Music (Publishing) Ltd

User Reviews

Taught intellectual thriller

This is a great movie from so many angles. At first it has what appears to be a slow tempo but one that sucks you in and has you "biting your fingernails" - yup, without realising it, you're hooked.... and genuinely frightened. Owen and Riseborough are flawless and their characters are addictive. But they aren't the only excellent performances that come out - Colette's brothers and lest I forget, her Mother.

James Marsh is recognised as a serious talent but one is never certain this movie will go down in the States as much as us Europeans may enjoy it. It should do, because it is not a Northern Ireland film per say - its a great thriller.

I read the book and really enjoyed it - but that was a few years ago. With this film, Marsh shows he "got it" and then took it further and, like any great Director - showed the reader there is so much more to it, without in any way veering off course. That is the difference between good and great, for me anyway. I can't wait for his next film - I want more, "now".

Then, there's the book - maybe I'll go and find it on my shelves and get lost in it again. It still stands out as a great read, even if it was a while ago.