Over the last few weeks, Dublin film fans have been voting on Dublin's favourite film and one we were secretly hoping would win (don't get us wrong, we like them all) was the Commitments, one of our very own favourites here in the office.
Well, this weekend in Smithfield Square as part of the new DIFF Pix series, the Dublin Film Festival will be screening one of the greats, The Commitments.
Straight from the heart and soul, filmed on location in Dublin in 1991, The Commitments was a comedy-drama film adaptation based on the brilliant book by Roddy Doyle.
The film spoke endless depths of sincerity both in spoken and sung dialogue. When it first came out, Alan Parker’s film became a bonafide cultural phenomenon with the soundtrack album climbing up the charts. People were hungry for authentic-sounding music, tired of the hedonistic hairspray bands of the 1980s. To its credit, the film still stands as an unabashed love letter to the belief that music can change your life and make a difference.
Parker has often commented that the Commitments is the favourite of all his films: “Probably of all my films, The Commitments is the most liked — particularly by critics. I think the film captures a little of the spirit and spunk of the working class kids in Dublin’s Northside. I also hope it catches some of the wit and wisdom of Roddy Doyle’s original novel. The film probably succeeded because, although it’s set in Dublin, it’s about the hopes and dreams music brings to young kids everywhere, from Finglas to Philadelphia and Memphis to Minsk.”
The online voting and the lottery for tickets is now closed, but you can get your seats and join the festival to relive this cinematic moment outdoors at Smithfield Square by calling in to our New Head Office in 13 Lower Ormond Quay.
The Box Office for this event only will be open Thursday and Friday 12:00 to 16:00 and everyday there will be a number of invites available.
Doors open on Saturday at 6pm.
