The Shore
The Shore is the inspiring story of two boyhood best friends - Joe (Ciarán Hinds) and Paddy (Conleth Hill) - divided by 25 years of misunderstanding. Their world and their friendship is shattered by the conflict escalating in Northern Ireland, the two boys' lives take very different paths until, 25 years later, Joe returns for the first time to his homeland with his 24-year-old daughter, Patricia. In his absence Paddy, his best friend, has married Joe’s former fiancée Mary. What happened all those years ago? Can old wounds be healed? The answer is in equal parts hilarious and moving.
The Shore, set on the beautiful County Down coast in Northern Ireland, portrays in stunning cinematography, the incredible natural beauty of the location. The two-time Oscar-nominated director, Terry George, used the best local acting talent and a world-renowned crew to bring to life this compelling human story of divided friendship, misunderstanding and eventual reconciliation.
The Shore encapsulates not just the sheer beauty of the Irish coast but also the humor and resilience of its people. The Shore is a film which captures and symbolizes the new Northern Ireland.
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Credits
Terry George
Terry George
Terry George is a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland. He first came to New York in 1981. His first dramatic work, the prison escape play, "The Tunnel", was staged at the Irish Arts Center in New York in 1986. "The Tunnel" was the first of numerous collaborations with writer / director Jim Sheridan.
In 1992 George and Sheridan wrote "In the Name of the Father". The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Screenplay. In 1996 George was named Young European Film Director of the Year for his directorial debut "Some Mother’s Son". Since then he has written and directed numerous television shows and feature films including, "A Bright Shining Lie", "The District", "Hart’s War", and "Reservation Road". In 2004 he wrote, directed and produced "Hotel Rwanda". The film was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Screenplay. He most recently directed Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte in the HBO drama series "Luck". He is currently working on a feature film based on the life of the UN Diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Director's Statement
The story of The Shore is loosely based on an incident related by one of my relatives who lives on the County Down coast. I saw, within this story, the chance to capture not just the stunning beauty of the coastline but also the remarkable humor and resilience of its people. The story also uniquely captures the atmosphere of rebirth and reconciliation that is at the heart of the new Northern Ireland.
I’ve spent some two decades in the entertainment industry and have worked from Bangkok to Beverly Hills. The Shore offers me the opportunity to make a film for the first time in my homeland – literally on my doorstep, as my family home overlooks the bay where The Shore is set. I can think of no better project to bring me back home to work.
Ciarán Hinds
Ciarán Hinds was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on February 9, 1953. He was one of five children and the only son. His father was a doctor who hoped to have Ciarán follow in his footsteps, but that was not to be. It was his mother Moya, an amateur actress, who was the real influence behind his decision to become an actor. Though he did enroll in Law at Queens' University of Belfast, he left that in order to train in acting at RADA. He began his stage career at the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre as a pantomime horse in the production of "Cinderella". Staying with the company for several years, he starred in a number of productions, including playing the lead roles in "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Faust". His stage career has included working with The Field Day Company and a number of world tours. He has starred in a number of productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, including a world tour in the title role of "Richard III". Hinds' film career began in 1981 in the movie "Excalibur" (1981), which boasted a cast rich in talented actors including Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne and Patrick Stewart. In-between his movie work, he's amassed a large number of television credits. Playing such classic characters as "Mr. Rochester" in Jane Eyre (1997) (TV), and "Persuasion" (1995) has increased his popularity and most definitely given him much increased recognition. He is in very high demand and his reputation as a quality, professional actor is sure to keep him busy for as long as he chooses.
Conleth Hill
Conleth Hill, born in Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is an award-winning film, stage, and television actor. He won the Laurence Olivier Award in 2001 as Best Actor for his performance in "Stones in His Pockets" at the New Ambassador's and York's Theatre, and went on to play the role in Toronto and on Broadway, where he was nominated for a Tony. He also received prizes from the Critics' Circle, the Drama Desk (Special Award), Theatre League, and a Dora Award, among others, for his work in the play. In 2005, he was awarded his second Olivier for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his role in "The Producers." In 2008, he garnered his second Tony nomination, for Best Performance as a Featured Actor in a Play, as well as a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, for Conor McPherson's "The Seafarer." His films include "Perrier's Bounty", "Intermission", "Trust Me", "A Man You Don't Meet Everyday", "Out of the Deep Pan", and "Cycle of Violence". He is about to start rehearsals for "All's Well That Ends Well" at The National.
Kerry Condon
Kerry Condon was born in Ireland in Tipperary, and studied at the Dublin Theatre Arts School. In her final year of schooling Kerry Condon made her professional debut (at just 16 years of age) as Theresa Carmody in "Angela's Ashes" directed by Alan Parker. Other major roles quickly followed, including Marietta Flynn in "Rat" directed by Steve Barron and Eileen in "How Harry Became A Tree" directed by Goran Paskaljevic. More recently, Kerry Condon appeared as Kate Kelly in "Ned Kelly" directed by Gregor Jordan for Working Title, and in "Intermission" with Colin Farrell, directed by John Crowley for Company of Wolves. Kerry Condon will appear as the female lead (Victoria) in "Unleashed", with Morgan Freeman and Jet Li, directed by Louis Leterrier and produced by Luc Besson in February 2005. In theatre Kerry Condon was offered the role of Ophelia in "Hamlet" for the Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Steven Pimlott. Then Kerry Condon was just 19 years old, making her the youngest actress ever to play that role for the RSC. As part of the same contract, Kerry Condon also originated the role of Mairead in Martin McDonagh's hugely successful "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" for the Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Wilson Milam. Other theatre includes McDonagh's "The Lonesome West" for the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, directed by Paddy Kineen. Kerry Condon's television credits include her role as Mairead Reilly in the BBC Production of "Ballykissangel" and Octavia in HBO's TV series 'Rome', co-starring Ciarán Hinds, Lindsay Duncan and James Purefoy and Ken Cranham.
Maggie Cronin
Maggie Cronin is an award winning actress and writer with numerous TV, film, stage, radio, voice over and narration credits to her name.She has performed on London’s West End, (Phoenix Theatre -Dancing At Lughnasa.) and she has frequently appeared at The Lyric Theatre Belfast: (1974- The End of The Year Show; Give Me Your Answer Do; Shadowlands; Jane Eyre; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Playboy of The Western World; The Crucible; After Easter) She has also had theatre tours of the UK and Ireland, and USA (for her own play, A Most Notorious Woman). TV roles include the part of Kate McGuire in Doctors (BBC 1 TV), co- starring Christopher Timothy, which she played for over 600 episodes. The show won a British Soap Award in May 2004 and was nominated for BAFTA and an RTS Awards. Other television appearances include BAFTA winning United (BBC2 NI) The Bill (ITV), Holby City (BBC1) The Clinic (RTÉ), Scapegoat (BBC NI) and Marú (TG4).
Recent Films include: A Belfast Story directed by Nathan Todd and Whole Lotta Sole, again directed by Terry George. Alongside her acting credits, recognition for Maggie’s writing has been steadily growing. A Most Notorious Woman, written and performed by Maggie, won the Stewart Parker Trust/ BBC Radio Drama Award and has toured extensively. The script is published by Lagan Press. Her most recent one woman show Greenstick Boy premiered at The Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh and a new play, Kitty Gulliver, will be premiered in London next year. Maggie is currently working on her next play The Handsome Cabin Girl for which she received a‘Support for The Individual Artist Programme’ Award from The Arts Council Northern Ireland.