The Young Offenders (film)
| The Young Offenders | |
|---|---|
 Irish poster | |
| Directed by | Peter Foott |
| Written by | Peter Foott |
| Produced by | Peter Foott Julie Ryan |
| Starring | Hilary Rose Chris Walley Alex Murphy Ciaran Bermingham |
| Cinematography | Patrick Jordan |
| Edited by | Colin Campbell |
Production companies | Irish Film Board Vico Films |
| Distributed by | Wildcard Distribution |
Release dates | 8 July 2016 (Galway Film Fleadh) 16 September 2016 (Ireland) |
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
The Young Offenders is a 2016 Irish comedy film, directed by Peter Foott.[1][2][3][4]
Production
The film is based on the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cocaine off the Irish coast near Mizen Head in 2007.[2] The film was shot in Cork City and along the Wild Atlantic Way.[5]
Plot
Inspired by the true story of Ireland's biggest cocaine seizure in 2007, The Young Offenders is a comedy road movie about best friends Conor and Jock, two inner-city teenagers from Cork who dress the same, act the same, and even have the same bum-fluff mustaches.
Set in Cork Ireland, Jock is a legendary bike thief who plays a daily game of cat-and-mouse with the bike-theft-obsessed Garda Sergeant Healy. When a drug-trafficking boat capsizes off the coast of West Cork and 61 bales of cocaine, each worth 7 million euro, are seized, word gets out that there is a bale missing. The boys steal two bikes and go on a road trip hoping to find a missing bale which they can sell so as to escape their troubled home lives. Unfortunately for them Sergeant Healy is in hot pursuit.
Cast
- Alex Murphy as Conor MacSweeney
- Chris Walley as Jock Murphy
- Hilary Rose as Mairead MacSweeney
- Dominic MacHale as Sergeant Healy
- P. J. Gallagher (comedian) as Ray the Drug Dealer
- Shane Casey as Billy Murphy
- Pascal Scott as Farmer
- Judy Donovan as Local ShopKeeper
- Michael Sands as Jock's Dad
- Ciaran Bermingham as Superintendent Flynn
- Stephen O'Connor as Angry Dad
- Fionula Linehan as DIY Worker
Release
The Young Offenders premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh on 8 July 2016, and won Best Irish Feature Film at the festival. The Irish Examiner scored it 4/5, saying "huge potential for that rare breakout hit which also attains a cultish following with endlessly quotable one liners."[6] The Irish Times named it as one of the highlights of the Fleadh, saying "Chris Walley and Alex Murphy are brilliant as track-suited layabouts who, though lazy, impulsive and ignorant, remain endlessly lovable throughout."[7] The film had its United States premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin Texas on 23 September 2016, where it won a Special Mention for Best Comedy Debut.[8] The Austin Chronicle commented saying "The Young Offenders is a charming return for Irish comedy."[9]
The Young Offenders has become the fastest Irish film to break the €1million mark at the Irish box office this year.[10] Carnaby Sales and Distribution has acquired the international sales rights to hit Irish comedy The Young Offenders. The news comes hot on the heels of the deal struck with Vertigo Releasing that will see the film released in the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.[11]
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Los Angeles Comedy Festival | Best Feature Film, Best Feature Screenplay, Best Feature Direction | Won |
| 2016 | Irish Film Festival London | The Súil Eile Award, The Ros Hubbard Award for Acting | Won |
| 2016 | Fantastic Fest | Special Mention for Best Comedy Debut | Won |
| 2016 | Galway Film Fleadh | Best Irish Feature Film | Won |
References
- ^ "The Young Offenders".
- ^ a b "#TRAILERCHEST: The Young Offenders looks like it might be one of your new favourite Irish films - JOE.ie".
- ^ "Young Offenders duo reveal on-set rivalry".
- ^ "The Young Offenders have lots of reasons to appeal".
- ^ "Young Offenders film debut - Independent.ie".
- ^ "The Young Offenders review- Irish comedy antics".
- ^ "Mad Mary and Young Offenders take Galway Film Fleadh by storm".
- ^ "Report From Fantastic Fest Day Eight - And The 2016 Fantastic Fest Awards".
- ^ "Fantastic Fest Review: The Young Offenders".
- ^ "The Young Offenders crosses €1 million at the Irish Box Office".
- ^ "Carnaby to sell Cork comedy The Young Offenders worldwide".
