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Film Info

Ireland 2008 | 83 min. Director: Declan Recks
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Project / Host

European Film Awards

Eden

Synopsis

EDEN is the screen adaptation of Eugene O'Brien's critically acclaimed, award-winning play of the same name. Set in a thriving midlands town, EDEN tells the story of a week in the lives of Billy and Breda Farrell as they approach their 10th wedding anniversary. Breda is determined that the milestone will re-ignite the passion in their marriage. Billy, on the other hand, has developed an obsession with Imelda Egan, a pretty but unobtainable local young thing, and has convinced himseif that the coming weekend will see them become lovers under the eyes of everyone. As the date draws closer, Billy's behaviour becomes more and more chaotic, while Breda's frustrations crystalise and find more mature, high-risk expression.

Cast & Crew

Director's comment

EDEN first came to my attention as a manuscript for an as yet un-produced play by Eugene O'Brien. Eugene's play, which was written as two monologues, struck me immediately as something I would like to try and adapt for film. The play was set in a world familiar to me, the midlands of Ireland, and related the simple story of a husband and wife, Billy and Breda who are approaching their tenth wedding anniversary with very different goals in mind. I was particularly interested in exploring how the central characters managed to physically live under the same roof yet be emotionally as far apart as any two people could be. The feeling of inevitability in Billy's drunken journey was something I felt that all males could identify with. While Breda's desire for Billy just to come home with her, would ring true for many women. The play's subsequent success and translation into several languages confirmed that Eugene's writing had hit a chord.

The biggest challenge in adapting the play was moving away from the monologue form. Finding a way to portray the central characters' inner lives in a visual way and fleshing out the peripheral characters who were only ever referred to in the play. But with Eugene's script, the cinematography of Owen McPolin and the fine performances from the two leads, Eileen Walsh and Aidan Kelly, I believe we've captured the feeling of the original work and hopefully brought a totally new dimension to it.

Cast & Crew

Declan Recks
 David Collins
 Eugene O’Brien
 Owen McPolin
 Eileen Walsh (Breda Farrell), Aidan Kelly (Billy Farrell)
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