Film Director: West Cork is ‘the best place to make a film’

THE Sparrow, a gripping new film by West Cork-based filmmaker Michael Kinirons, is set to hit cinemas this week. Set and filmed in West Cork, the movie follows the emotional journey of a dysfunctional family grappling with their grief from one trauma and about to face another heart-wrenching situation.

The film stars newcomer Ollie West, veteran David O’Hara, and Cork’s BAFTA-nominated Éanna Hardwicke as a father and two sons who are very much at odds. Kinrions says the initial idea for the film came from a dream.

“I remember waking up from a dream, and it left this seed in my head about two characters on a boat in a lake. It sat around my head for a while, and I knew it was meant to be something, but I didn’t know what. 

I grew up in the Midlands, and lakes surrounded my garden, but it wasn’t until I moved to West Cork that more ideas were formed.

He says he let the idea percolate for a couple of years, and when he sat down to write the script, he finished it in just two weeks.

“After waiting so long for the idea to fully form, the script suddenly came together for me. I wrote the first draft so quickly, I didn’t have any faith in it, but Screen Ireland liked it and was a great supporter.”

Kinirons was surprised at how quickly he wrote the script. He says he is usually a slow writer, but moving to West Cork and being immersed in the landscape made the writing process easier.

Alicia Ní Ghráinne, Kinirons’s wife, produces the film. The couple moved to Baltimore in 2014. The plan wasn’t to stay, but they fell in love with West Cork.

“Our lease was up in Dublin. We knew we didn’t want to rent in Dublin anymore, so I posted on Facebook asking if anyone knew where we could stay on the coast for a couple of months. A friend suggested their parent’s holiday house in Baltimore. 

We fell in love with the place, and now it’s ten years and counting.

The film has a great cast, including Isabelle Connolly, Aisling O’Sullivan, Dara Devaney, and Mark O’Halloran, but the key to its success is the casting of the three central characters, Larry and his two sons, Robbie and Kevin.

The film’s emotional heart is Kevin, the black sheep of his family and the victim of his father’s brutal temper. Kinrions cast newcomer West, who has previous theatre experience, but this is his first time on screen. Kinirons says West blew him away.

“Ollie was the second person to audition for the role. The camera loves him. He instinctively knew what to do with his eyes and how to be on camera. We auditioned other actors, but deep down, I knew Ollie was the right person. He has such emotional depth.”

Kinirons needed a young actor to play Kevin’s older brother. He needed someone who could pull off the charm of being the local hotshot without appearing arrogant. Hardwicke was the perfect fit, he says.

“I was looking for someone who was like an all-American quarterback, someone you would believe that everything comes easily to. Éanna has natural charm and charisma; when I saw the audition tape, I thought he was amazing. He’s a real craftsman and so open. He has such a range. 

We were so lucky to have him in this film.

Hardwicke, who is currently starring in Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard in London, says it was a dream to make a film in West Cork.

“I spent summers there growing up, and it’s always felt like a bit of a dreamscape in my mind. It was a literal dream come true to make The Sparrow in Baltimore. Over a few weeks of heavy grey skies, battering rain and a couple of rare golden days – it wouldn’t be much of a West Cork film without all seasons in one.”

The Glanmire actor says he was drawn to Kiniron’s script. “When I read Michael’s script, it read like a dark drama, The Hunt (Thomas Vintenburg) came to mind – but also had this freewheeling summer holidays atmosphere that felt like a West Cork Stand by Me, or the great Cork film War of the Buttons. When you’re a kid, and you’ve all this free time and life is happening from all directions. It’s a really compelling combination.”

Hardwicke says the filmmakers created a great atmosphere on set despite the film’s challenging moments.

“Michael and Alicia created a family-feel on set. It was brilliant fun. 

It was community driven, and I think you can feel that in the film. I loved it.

Kinirons says they were blessed to have O’Hara onboard. The veteran actor has worked with big-name directors, including Martin Scorsese.

“David took on a leadership role and set a tone on set, which really helped. He has been in so many great movies, but this is some of the best work he has ever done. We are so lucky.”

West Cork is like a character in the film, and Kinirons says the community supported them throughout the shoot.

“We are so grateful. The whole community came together. We used as many local crew as possible, but anyone who came to work from outside Cork had the best experience. It is the best place to make a film because of the food, the atmosphere, the talented crew, and the sense of community spirit. We hope Cork audiences come out to support this Cork-made film and celebrate local talent.”

The Sparrow opens in cinemas tomorrow, Friday, July 5, rated 15a.