USA: FILM PREMIERE OF PAUL QUINN'S FILM "THIS IS MY FATHER" STARRING AIDAN QUINN

Record ID: 388374

  • Title: USA: FILM PREMIERE OF PAUL QUINN'S FILM "THIS IS MY FATHER" STARRING AIDAN QUINN
  • Date: 15th May 1999
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 23) (RTV-LA) (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) AIDAN QUINN SAYING " When we emigrated, you know, we left something behind and this film, in a way, is about going back to find out what that is for Jimmy Caan's character and I think that's what this whole geneological pursuit is all about, is trying to just fully complete who we are, you kn
  • Embargoed: 30th May 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA9KYYZ05W9CNC6RXDB9R11K8CK
  • Story Text: After enjoying a successful run in Ireland, first time film director Paul Quinn brought his debut film "This is My Father" to America on Monday, May 3 for the film's Los Angeles premiere.It's a family affair for Quinn, because his brother Aidan stars in it and his other brother Declan was the cinematographer.
    Aidan Quinn plays the lead role of Kieran O'Day, a poor farmer in Ireland in 1939 who falls in love with the wealthy daughter of an embittered widow, played by newcomer Moya Farrelly, only to have that love denied him by the religious and cultural strictures of that time period.
    This part of the story is intercut with scenes set in modern day Chicago and Ireland, where a disillusioned schoolteacher played by James Caan decides to take his troubled nephew on a trip to their ancestral home in Ireland in search of their ancestors.
    As the film unfolds, Caan's character begins to wonder whether or not Kieran O'Day is, in fact, the father he never knew.
    Having already played to positive critical and commercial success in Ireland, rookie director Paul Quinn is now bringing his first film to his adopted country of America.Paul, Aidan and Declan are three of five children in the Quinn family, all of whom grew up as immigrants in American.
    Aidan and Paul both admit that making this film was an educations experience for them, because they learned a lot about what their parents went through in their native Ireland before coming to the United States.In fact, Paul believes the experience of being immigrant children in America actually helped foster in the Quinn brothers the observational skills needed to be a good filmmaker.
    For James Caan, working with the Quinn brothers only meant working with Paul and cinematographer Declan, since he didn't share any scenes with Aidan's character set in the 1930's.
    But this was fine for him, since he didn't want to get ganged up on by the brothers.
    Both Paul and Aidan admit to having some fears of working on a film with their brothers, since brotherly love can very quickly turn into sibling rivalry, but because of the tight time schedule of the production, there wasn't enough time for fighting or major disagreements.
    Never-the-less, Aidan can cite a few instances where he and Declan disagreed with Paul over some issues and tried to change his mind based on their extensive experience on film sets, but, in the end, Paul was their director, and they had to listen to him and do it they way he wanted it done.
    The project was shot on location in Chicago and Ireland, and this is the third film Aidan Quinn has made in the country.He previously starred in "The Playboys" and "Michael Collins." His other credits include "Practical Magic,"
    "Legends of the Fall" and "Avalon."
    Declan Quinn is a respected cinematographer who has received widespread acclaim within the film industry for his work on such films as "Leaving Las Vegas," "One Night Stand"
    and "Vanya on 42nd Street."
    Besides the lead roles, "This Is My Father" also features a cameo appearance by American actor John Cusack as an American photographer whose airplane touches down on a beach during a tender moment between Kieran O'Day and his lover.
    "This is My Father" opens in theaters in the United States on Friday, May 7.
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