Route Irish (film)
Encyclopedia
Route Irish is a 2010 drama-thriller film directed by Ken Loach
and written by Paul Laverty
. It is set in Liverpool
and focuses on the consequences suffered by private security contractors after fighting in the Iraq War. The title comes from the Baghdad Airport Road
, known as "Route Irish". The film was a British-French co-production. It was selected for the main competition at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
.
Philip French, in The Observer
, wrote that the film reprises several themes in Loach's films, such as state-sanctioned crime, the brutality of war, the exploitation of the underclass and harsh treatment of native populations.
) remembers the final messages sent to him by his lifelong friend Frankie (John Bishop
), whose funeral he is to attend. The night before, Molloy unseals his friend's coffin as it lies wake to see his friend's badly injured corpse. At the funeral, Haynes (Jack Fortune) a director of the private military company
Molloy and Frankie worked for, gives a eulogy praising Frankie and describing military contractors as the "unsung heroes of our time". Afterwards, Haynes and Walker (Geoff Bell
) explain to Frankie's family the circumstances of his death, though Molloy remains embittered and closely questions the two men. Later at the wake, Molloy attacks Haynes when he sees him distributing his business card to enlisted soldiers there.
Marisol, (Najwa Nimri
) bequeaths a package to Molloy, which Frankie had entrusted to a mutual friend with a note asking it be given to Molloy. With the help of Harim (Talib Rasool), an Iraqi musician, Molloy discovers a video on the phone which shows a member Frankie's team killing an innocent Iraqi family a few weeks before his death. Molloy becomes suspicious, and has friends still working for the firm in Iraq investigate the incident, but it has not been recorded.
. It received funding from France 2
and North West Vision Media. Principal shooting took place on location in Liverpool with one week of shooting in Jordan
, standing in for Iraq. The film reunited Loach with cinematographer Chris Menges
who had worked on several of the director's films in the past, including Kes
. The character Craig was played by actual Iraq war veteran Craig Lundberg, whom the writer had encountered while doing research. The waterboarding
scene was performed for real on actor Trevor Williams, after the results had not been satisfactory during earlier attempts at merely staging the act. For being a Ken Loach film, Route Irish uses an unusually high amount of stunt scenes and pyrotechnics.
, in competition as part of the official selection. According to festival general Thierry Fremaux, the film was not finished in time for the ordinary cut-off date. However, producer Rebecca O'Brien submitted it anyway as soon as it was ready, and it was accepted as a late addition only two days before the festival started. Ken Loach said in an interview that the team never considered having it ready for Cannes, but when it turned out that they were ahead of the schedule the French co-producers pushed for a submission. The film was released generally in France on the 16 March 2011, and on the 18th in the United Kingdom.
Ken Loach
Kenneth "Ken" Loach is a Palme D'Or winning English film and television director.He is known for his naturalistic, social realist directing style and for his socialist beliefs, which are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as homelessness , labour rights and child abuse at the...
and written by Paul Laverty
Paul Laverty
Paul Laverty is a Scottish lawyer and scriptwriter.-Birth and early career:Paul Laverty was born in Calcutta, India, to an Irish mother and Scottish father. He obtained a Philosophy degree at the Gregorian University in Rome...
. It is set in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and focuses on the consequences suffered by private security contractors after fighting in the Iraq War. The title comes from the Baghdad Airport Road
Baghdad Airport Road
The Baghdad Airport Road is a 12 kilometer stretch of highway in Baghdad, Iraq linking the International Zone, a heavily fortified area at the center of Baghdad, to Baghdad International Airport . It also links different parts of Baghdad to the Airport and connects neighboring areas to each other...
, known as "Route Irish". The film was a British-French co-production. It was selected for the main competition at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
2010 Cannes Film Festival
The 63rd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 12 to May 23, 2010, in Cannes, France. The Cannes Film Festival, hailed as being one of the most recognized and prestigious film festivals worldwide, was founded in 1946. It consists of having films screened in and out of competition during the...
.
Philip French, in The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, wrote that the film reprises several themes in Loach's films, such as state-sanctioned crime, the brutality of war, the exploitation of the underclass and harsh treatment of native populations.
Plot
The film opens on a ferry in Liverpool, as Fergus Molloy (Mark WomackMark Womack (British actor)
Mark Edward Womack is an English actor, best known for starring in Liverpool 1, Sorted and Willy Russell's Dancin thru' The Dark.Womack was born in Liverpool in 1961, eldest son of Frances and Tom Womack...
) remembers the final messages sent to him by his lifelong friend Frankie (John Bishop
John Bishop (comedian)
John Joseph Bishop is an award-winning comedian.His television debut came on The Panel. As an actor, he has appeared in the E4 teen drama Skins as Mr Fitch, father of twins, Katie and Emily and in the Ken Loach film Route Irish...
), whose funeral he is to attend. The night before, Molloy unseals his friend's coffin as it lies wake to see his friend's badly injured corpse. At the funeral, Haynes (Jack Fortune) a director of the private military company
Private military company
A private military company or provides military and security services. These combatants are commonly known as mercenaries, though modern-day PMCs refer to their staff as security contractors, private military contractors or private security contractors, and refer to themselves as private military...
Molloy and Frankie worked for, gives a eulogy praising Frankie and describing military contractors as the "unsung heroes of our time". Afterwards, Haynes and Walker (Geoff Bell
Geoff Bell (actor)
Geoff Bell is an English actor.-Career:He has appeared in many films, mostly as a cameo appearance or as a supporting role.He has appeared in Girl with a Pearl Earring, Stardust, The Long Firm, Making Waves, The Business and RocknRolla.One of his most well-known films is Green Street, where he...
) explain to Frankie's family the circumstances of his death, though Molloy remains embittered and closely questions the two men. Later at the wake, Molloy attacks Haynes when he sees him distributing his business card to enlisted soldiers there.
Marisol, (Najwa Nimri
Najwa Nimri
Najwa Nimri Urrutikoetxea is a Spanish actress and singer of Jordanian descent.-Early life:...
) bequeaths a package to Molloy, which Frankie had entrusted to a mutual friend with a note asking it be given to Molloy. With the help of Harim (Talib Rasool), an Iraqi musician, Molloy discovers a video on the phone which shows a member Frankie's team killing an innocent Iraqi family a few weeks before his death. Molloy becomes suspicious, and has friends still working for the firm in Iraq investigate the incident, but it has not been recorded.
Cast
- Mark WomackMark Womack (British actor)Mark Edward Womack is an English actor, best known for starring in Liverpool 1, Sorted and Willy Russell's Dancin thru' The Dark.Womack was born in Liverpool in 1961, eldest son of Frances and Tom Womack...
as Fergus - Andrea LoweAndrea LoweAndrea Lowe is an English actress.-Career:She started her theatre career at the Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in the play The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter....
as Rachel - John BishopJohn Bishop (comedian)John Joseph Bishop is an award-winning comedian.His television debut came on The Panel. As an actor, he has appeared in the E4 teen drama Skins as Mr Fitch, father of twins, Katie and Emily and in the Ken Loach film Route Irish...
as Frankie - Geoff BellGeoff Bell (actor)Geoff Bell is an English actor.-Career:He has appeared in many films, mostly as a cameo appearance or as a supporting role.He has appeared in Girl with a Pearl Earring, Stardust, The Long Firm, Making Waves, The Business and RocknRolla.One of his most well-known films is Green Street, where he...
as Walker - Jack Fortune as Haynes
- Talib Rasool as Harim
- Craig Lundberg as Craig
- Trevor Williams as Nelson
- Russel Anderson as Tommy
- Jamie Michie as Jamie
- Stephen LordStephen LordStephen Lord is a British actor probably best known for playing Jase Dyer, in BBC soap opera EastEnders between 2007-2008.- Personal life :...
as Steve - Najwa NimriNajwa NimriNajwa Nimri Urrutikoetxea is a Spanish actress and singer of Jordanian descent.-Early life:...
as Marisol
Production
Ken Loach's company Sixteen Films co-produced the film with France's Why Not Productions and Wild BunchWild Bunch (film company)
Wild Bunch S.A. is a French film production and international sales company. Originally a division of StudioCanal, the company has produced films such as Land of the Dead, Southland Tales and Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?. They have also produced Woody Allen's Cassandra's Dream, Vicky...
. It received funding from France 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
and North West Vision Media. Principal shooting took place on location in Liverpool with one week of shooting in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, standing in for Iraq. The film reunited Loach with cinematographer Chris Menges
Chris Menges
Chris Menges BSC, ASC, is an English cinematographer and film director. He is a member of both the American and British Societies of Cinematographers.-Life and career:...
who had worked on several of the director's films in the past, including Kes
Kes (film)
Kes is a 1969 British film from director Ken Loach and producer Tony Garnett. The film is based on the novel A Kestrel for a Knave, written by the Barnsley-born author Barry Hines in 1968...
. The character Craig was played by actual Iraq war veteran Craig Lundberg, whom the writer had encountered while doing research. The waterboarding
Waterboarding
Waterboarding is a form of torture in which water is poured over the face of an immobilized captive, thus causing the individual to experience the sensation of drowning...
scene was performed for real on actor Trevor Williams, after the results had not been satisfactory during earlier attempts at merely staging the act. For being a Ken Loach film, Route Irish uses an unusually high amount of stunt scenes and pyrotechnics.
Release
Route Irish was first shown on 20 May at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival2010 Cannes Film Festival
The 63rd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 12 to May 23, 2010, in Cannes, France. The Cannes Film Festival, hailed as being one of the most recognized and prestigious film festivals worldwide, was founded in 1946. It consists of having films screened in and out of competition during the...
, in competition as part of the official selection. According to festival general Thierry Fremaux, the film was not finished in time for the ordinary cut-off date. However, producer Rebecca O'Brien submitted it anyway as soon as it was ready, and it was accepted as a late addition only two days before the festival started. Ken Loach said in an interview that the team never considered having it ready for Cannes, but when it turned out that they were ahead of the schedule the French co-producers pushed for a submission. The film was released generally in France on the 16 March 2011, and on the 18th in the United Kingdom.
External links
- Official page on Sixteen Films, Loach's production company
- Film page on daphana.fr
- Video interview with Loach from the University of WarwickUniversity of WarwickThe University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
- Interview with Ken Loach, interview about Route Irish in the Oxonian Review