Anger is an energy. In playwright Conor McPherson’s hands, writing with Billy Roche, it can last, linger and carry over to the other side. The screenwriter of “I Went Down,” his plays include “the Weir,” “Shining City” and “The Seafarer.” Ciarán Hinds plays Michael, a teacher and woodworker who’s also a widower with two kids; either he’s having nightmares or their home is haunted by his late wife. A volunteer at a County Cork literary festival, Michael is assigned as handler to Lena (Iben Hjejle), who writes about the supernatural. There’s talk of ghosts and what passes for reality, only to be interrupted by a famous novelist, Nicholas (a very funny Aidan Quinn, capturing a certain writerly sort of narcissist superbly). Complications ensue haphazardly, yet entertainingly, and the Irish atmosphere is seductive. Even with an odd jumble of tones now and again, things do go bump in the night… 88m. (Ray Pride)
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
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