SligofeaturedheavilyinJim Sheridan’s‘ SecretScripture’
JIM Sheridan is an Irish playwright, screenwriter, film director and producer to name but a few.
More famously known for his acclaimed Irish films ‘ My Left Foot’, ‘ The Field’ and ‘ In the name of the Father’ he is now talking about his latest film, ‘ The Secret Scripture’ starring an award winning cast of Rooney Mara, Vanessa Redgrave and Eric Bana.
Set in Ballytivnan Sligo, the film is a remake of Irish writer Sebastian Barry’s 2008 novel ‘ The Secret Scripture’.
Sheridan adapted the book, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize, with Johnny Ferguson: “He introduced me to the book and wrote the screenplay, after Johnny died I said I had better do something with it.” said Sheridan.
There is great pressure involved when adapting a book into a film with many people critical of changes and Sheridan knows only too well.
“I had to do what I had to do. In the book, Rose is 100 and the doctor is around 80, I just didn’t feel like this would work in film.
“If you were to give the book its true credit, you would have to film a 10 hour series.
“However the ending in the film remains faithful to the book.” he said.
British actress Vanessa Redgrave stars as ‘ Lady’ Rose McNulty, a woman imprisoned for decades in a mental ward accused of killing her own child.
Not only is she convinced she didn’t kill the child she also believes her baby is still alive and keeps a journal in the margins of a Bible recounting her stories.
When the mental ward is on the verge of being turned into a resort, she refuses to move, and begins telling her story to psychologist Stephen Grene ( Eric Bana).
Rooney Mara plays the younger ‘ Lady Rose’ in a flashback of 1940s Ireland.
We see the beautiful young waitress courted by countless suitors from a young priest to an air force pilot and we watch as the drama unfolds around her.
From the film you can see the breathtaking views of Benbulben however most of the work was filmed on the East Coast of Ireland.
Sheridan has been producing and directing movies his whole life and rarely reads review of his work but he admits he gets nervous for the Irish release date.
“They’re the worst: the home critics” said Sheridan laughing.
The Secret Scripture has a strong theme of power of the Irish Catholic Church and the control of the state over independently minded individuals and Sheridan believes that people should take away from the film a few honest truths.
“You should keep your eyes open in relation to Government structures and religious orders in life.” he said.
The Secret Scripture is due to be released in Ireland on May 19th of this year in cinemas Nationwide.