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SYNOPSIS
This film tells the story of Ellie (Hayley Atwell), who through a series of events gets left in charge of a residential home, “Woodlawns”, over the Christmas period. The home is run by her elder sister, Kate (Orla Brady) who gets called away to nurse their sick mother, leaving Ellie to cope in her absence. Kate is the sensible one, while Ellie is young and impetuous.
Looking after the home proves to be a mammoth task for Ellie as the four residents known as the “hardcore”, Georgia (Vanessa Redgrave, Hazel (Imelda Staunton), Heather (Brenda Fricker) and Donald (Joss Ackland), prove difficult in the extreme. Between them they have managed to scare away most of the other residents and help bring the home almost to the point of collapse.
The “hardcore” have all lived lives rather different to the way they behave. Frankly they live lives of quiet desperation. They are impossible to deal with - rude, cranky but often very funny. Ellie appears to be no match for them. However when the going gets tough she takes them on. The film tells the story of how she changes them and in a strange way they change her. It’s a story that’s not sentimental but in fact real. Sometimes sad but more times hilarious.
It is directed by a young award winning short filmmaker Anthony Byrne. Ellie played by the actress Hayley Atwell is considered to be the brightest young actress to come up the “pike” in many a day (THE LINE OF BEAUTY BBC and the star of Woody Allen’s new film yet untitled). The four members of the “hardcore” Vanessa Redgrave, Imelda Staunton, Brenda Fricker and Joss Ackland have illustrious careers. With Brenda Fricker winning an Oscar for MY LEFT FOOT, Vanessa Redgrave for JULIA and Imelda Staunton nominated for an Oscar for VERA DRAKE and Joss Ackland (WHITE MISCHIEF, LETHAL WEAPON 2, FLAWLESS).
Start Date : 23rd October 2006
Wrap Date : 2nd December 2006
Producer: Noel Pearson
Co-Producer: Sarah Radclyffe
Associate Producer : Catherine O’Flaherty
Executive Producers : Bill Godfrey, Paul Brett, Tim Smith, Phil Hunt, Compton Ross, Peter Hamden, Jon Diamond
Shooting Locations : Wicklow & Rostrevor Ireland
Director : Anthony Byrne
Assistant Director : 1st Assistant Director Kevan Barker
Screenwriter: Jean Pasley
Cinematographer: Des Whelan
Editor: Emma Hickox
Production Designer : Tom McCullagh
Art Director : Brendan Rankin
Set Director : Jenny Oman
Costumer: Hazel Webb-Crozier
Sound: Ray Cross
Line Producer : John McDonnell
Casting: Nuala Moiselle, Frank Moiselle
Unit Publicist : Gerry Lundberg (Tel: +353 1 679 8476 / 087 2591070)
Ferndale Films in association with Sarah Radclyffe Productions and Prescience Film Partners 2, Lip Sync Productions, Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission, RTE, The Irish Film Board and Head Gear Films.
Sales Agent: Beyond Films
CAST
ELLIE
Hayley Atwell (The Line of Beauty (BBC), Woody Allen’s new film yet untitled)
GEORGIA
Vanessa Redgrave (Julia, The White Countess, Mrs Dalloway, Howards End)
DONALD
Joss Ackland (White Mischief, Lethal Weapon 2, Flawless)
ALICE
Joan O’Hara (Da, A Man of No Importance)
HAZEL
Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake, Harry Potter)
HEATHER
Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot, The Field, Closing the Ring)
KATE
Orla Brady (A Love Divided, The Luzhin Defence, Proof)
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