I Went Down
Encyclopedia
I Went Down is an Irish comedy crime film by director Paddy Breathnach
released 3 October 1997
.
, Git Hynes, (Peter McDonald
) walks into trouble on the day of his release from jail.
He goes to meet his ex-girlfriend Sabrina Bradley, (Antoine Byrne), who has dumped him for his best friend Anto (David Wilmot
). When Git goes to confront Anto about this, he learns that the latter's gambling addiction has left him heavily in debt to the bookies, who are about to take his fingers as collateral. Git jumps in and saves his friend from a beating, but uses a broken bottle to permanently disfigure the ringleader, who happens to be the nephew of mob boss Tom French (Tony Doyle).
At a sit-down, Tom French decrees that Git must work off Anto's debt as punishment for his interference. He is ordered to drive to Cork
to find French's associate Frank Grogan (Peter Caffrey
); and bring him back to Dublin. Holding Anto as a hostage, French pairs the reluctant Git with half-wit and heavy handed mobster, Bunny Kelly (Brendan Gleeson
). While bickering and dodging bullets, the two encounter mayhem and discover each others' deepest secrets. An unlikely friendship begins to develop between them.
The New York Times reviewer praised it for "steering clear of Irish movie stereotypes and instead showing off a spare and quizzical indie spirit".
Rogert Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars.
tape, although it was released on DVD in Australia.
Paddy Breathnach
Paddy Breathnach is an award-winning Irish film director and producer. He directed Man About Dog, Blow Dry and Shrooms. He was also involved in the production of The Mighty Celt and Ape....
released 3 October 1997
1997 in film
-Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*...
.
Plot
After serving an eighteen-month sentence for breaking and enteringBurglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
, Git Hynes, (Peter McDonald
Peter McDonald (actor)
Peter McDonald is an Irish stage and screen actor. He grew up in Mount Merrion in South County Dublin. His mother, Brenda Costigan is a cookery writer and his father, Richard McDonald sells bailer twine...
) walks into trouble on the day of his release from jail.
He goes to meet his ex-girlfriend Sabrina Bradley, (Antoine Byrne), who has dumped him for his best friend Anto (David Wilmot
David Wilmot (actor)
David Wilmot is an award-winning Irish stage, screen, and television actor.Wilmot's theatre credits include Six Characters in Search of an Author at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, As You Like It with the Druid Theatre Company in Galway, and Juno and the Paycock in London's West End...
). When Git goes to confront Anto about this, he learns that the latter's gambling addiction has left him heavily in debt to the bookies, who are about to take his fingers as collateral. Git jumps in and saves his friend from a beating, but uses a broken bottle to permanently disfigure the ringleader, who happens to be the nephew of mob boss Tom French (Tony Doyle).
At a sit-down, Tom French decrees that Git must work off Anto's debt as punishment for his interference. He is ordered to drive to Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
to find French's associate Frank Grogan (Peter Caffrey
Peter Caffrey
Peter Caffrey was an Irish actor best known for playing Padraig O'Kelly on Series 1-4 of Ballykissangel, but also well regarded for his role as a transvestite in the film , and ....
); and bring him back to Dublin. Holding Anto as a hostage, French pairs the reluctant Git with half-wit and heavy handed mobster, Bunny Kelly (Brendan Gleeson
Brendan Gleeson
Brendan Gleeson is an Irish actor. His best-known films include Braveheart, Gangs of New York, In Bruges, 28 Days Later, the Harry Potter films, The Guard and the role of Michael Collins in The Treaty...
). While bickering and dodging bullets, the two encounter mayhem and discover each others' deepest secrets. An unlikely friendship begins to develop between them.
Cast
- Peter McDonaldPeter McDonald (actor)Peter McDonald is an Irish stage and screen actor. He grew up in Mount Merrion in South County Dublin. His mother, Brenda Costigan is a cookery writer and his father, Richard McDonald sells bailer twine...
as Git Hynes - Brendan GleesonBrendan GleesonBrendan Gleeson is an Irish actor. His best-known films include Braveheart, Gangs of New York, In Bruges, 28 Days Later, the Harry Potter films, The Guard and the role of Michael Collins in The Treaty...
as Bunny Kelly - Tony Doyle as Tom French
- Peter CaffreyPeter CaffreyPeter Caffrey was an Irish actor best known for playing Padraig O'Kelly on Series 1-4 of Ballykissangel, but also well regarded for his role as a transvestite in the film , and ....
as Frank Grogan - Antoine Byrne as Sabrina Bradley
- David WilmotDavid Wilmot (actor)David Wilmot is an award-winning Irish stage, screen, and television actor.Wilmot's theatre credits include Six Characters in Search of an Author at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, As You Like It with the Druid Theatre Company in Galway, and Juno and the Paycock in London's West End...
as Anto - Carly Baker as Caroline
- Michael McElhattonMichael McElhattonMichael McElhatton is an Irish actor and writer.-Selected filmography:* A Tiger's Tail* Spin the Bottle* Intermission* The Actors* Blow Dry* Saltwater* Crushproof* I Went Down* Perrier's Bounty-Selected Stage Career:...
as Johnner Doyle - Joe Gallagher as Steo Gannon
Critical response
Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 84% based on 19 reviews.The New York Times reviewer praised it for "steering clear of Irish movie stereotypes and instead showing off a spare and quizzical indie spirit".
Rogert Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars.
Awards
The film won several awards. Paddy Breathnach won Best New Director and the Jury Prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival and won Best Director at Thessalonica 1997 and Best Film at Bogota International Film Festival 1998. Screenwriter Conor McPherson also won awards and acclaim for his script.Home media
Although it became Ireland's most successful independent film when it was released in 1997, I Went Down has only ever been released for home viewing on VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
tape, although it was released on DVD in Australia.