metro Arts & Entertainment life 12 metrolife Monday, October 19, 2009 Film Interview Marian Quinn Finding her own arian Quinn can hardly believe she reached the finishing line. When she was trying to get her debut feature up and running, she met a succession of stumbling blocks. There were the sceptical financiers, who told her that creating a period drama with a limited budget was overly ambitious. Then there were naysayers, who believed 32As coming- of-age theme had been told many times before. But Quinn carried on regardless, considering these attitudes a short-sighted response to her story about teenage girls growing up in Dublin. Id say to these people: Yes there have been plenty of coming-of-age films, but so few about girls. They would reel off films that featured girls, but in all of them the girl was just the object of the male protagonists desire. Maybe its because women account for about three per cent of film directors. Maybe that has something to do with it? Quinns single-minded vision saw 32A through to fruition. A sweetly poignant drama, it follows the adolescent trials and tribulations of 13-year-old Maeve: her first love, and the effect it has on her and her friendships. The story may be slight, but it is memorable due to refreshing performances from the young actors, particularly Ailish McCarthy as Maeve. Its an age where nothing fits, nothing is right, explains the director. Theyre not children and theyre not really women. Its a moment in a girls life. I think older teens are knowing and almost world weary. At that age, 13, youre trying to discover what its all about. 32A marks another creative instalment for the Quinn family. The director is sister to Paul Quinn, who helmed 1998s This Is My Father, and cinematographer, Declan Quinn, who worked on Breakfast M On Pluto and The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee. Her brother Aidan is perhaps the best known of the clan, having first claimed the spotlight in the 1980s with Desperately Seeking Susan and The Mission, progressing on to Hollywood fare like Legends Of The Fall. He cameos in 32A as Maeves father. I thought Aidan would be perfect for the role of the dad, says Quinn. It also helped me, when dealing with funders, to have him on board. Does she feel her family is genetically disposed toward filmmaking? She laughs. Well, my mother was a great story-teller. Maybe the story-telling aspect brought us all to film. Declan is the eldest in our family and I think he probably inspired a lot of us. He started as a photographer, then went to film school. Certainly, Declans woozy cinematography on the Oscar-winning Leaving Las Vegas was outstanding. Leaving Las Vegas, as Declan would say himself, saw all the elements coming together: writing, directing, acting, the music, the production design. Thats what makes that film so great. In turn, Quinn wanted to bring together a cohesive team of collaborators for her debut. In making 32A, she also had her own experiences to call upon, having spent her teenage years in Dublin before moving to London. Much of 32A is nostalgia- drenched and the film resurrects famous Dublin institutions, such as the long- running Grove nightclub in Raheny. The bouncers were all off-duty cops, Its an age where nothing fits, nothing is right... Theyre not children and theyre not really women The sister of Hollywood actor Aidan Quinn tells Pavel Barter about the barriers to bringing her debut film 32A to screen Ive recently re-read Anne Of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It has lost none of its magic. I still loved Matthew the gruff and kindly brother of Marilla, who adopted Anne at a very young age. Matthew was a kindly silent man who quietly observed all that went on but very rarely interfered. He knew very little about the rearing of children but had an innate knowledge of the working of a childs mind. Because he was a farmer he knew about caring for the young and he applied this wisdom to all his dealings with Anne. He never tried to overrule his forceful sister but she instinctively sensed Matthews silent disapproval if she wronged Anne and was guided by his judgment which she knew to be sound. You could not but love Matthew. I loved him when I read Anne Of Green Gables as a child and discovered that I still loved him when I had overtaken him in years. A good man never loses his appeal. Alice Taylors The Journey: New And Selected Poems (Brandon, 19) is out now CHARACTER STUDY Alice Taylors favourite fictional character Bowling For Soup In Town Tonight Reviving 1980s synth-pop with the 2002 cover of A Flock Of Seagulls I Ran (So Far Away) on LP Drunk Enough To Dance, these Texan rockers are hitting Dublin as part of their delightfully named Party In Your Pants tour Tonight, The Academy, 57 Middle Abbey Street D1, 7.30pm, 25. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.bowlingforsoup.com Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience A hit at last years Edinburgh Fringe, this interactive Australian production recreates Basil Fawltys madcap hotel while the audience eats a three-course meal. Will Sybil be able to control her husband and is Manuels service up to scratch? Until Sat (various dates), Civic Theatre, The Square, Tallaght D24, 8pm, 42 to 45 (incl dinner). Tel: (01) 462 7477. www.civictheatre.ie Tony Buzan Fishs memory or easily distracted? You could benefit from the Mind Map gurus techniques to help improve retention, concentration and lateral thinking. An interactive seminar for sieve-heads Tonight, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace D2, 7.30pm, 25 to 50 (returns only). Tel: (01) 417 0000. www.buzanworld.com metro Arts & Entertainment life Book Now Ash Proof that the Downpatrick trios fires were never fully extinguished post-Britpop is their A-Z Series; a surprisingly rump-shaking collection of singles, one released every fortnight over a year. Available on download and limited edition 72in vinyl, the series officially kicked off with True Love 1980 last Monday with its follow- up, Joy Kicks Darkness, out on October 26. This Dublin gig will see the band showcasing the singles as well as trawling through their glittering back catalogue which includes Girl From Mars, Oh Yeah, Shining Light and Starcrossed Nov 25, The Button Factory, Curved Street D2, 7.30pm, 23. Tel: (01) 670 9202. www.ash-official.com 12 metrolife Monday, October 19, 2009 (Brandon, 19) is out now THE HOTTEST TICKETS IN TOWN We have two pairs of tickets to see ASH Nov 25 at The Button Factory, 7.30pm For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the question below to life@metroireland.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With your answer please include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Strictly one entry per person; entrants must be age 18+. Q. In which of Ashs music videos features a fairground set on fire? A. Angel Interceptor B. Oh Yeah The winners of Fridays tickets to see Jack Peate are: Tracy Purcell, Aiden McGale & Shane Casey index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html