Mullingar film-maker Terry McMahon returned home last Wednesday for a screening of his celebrated new movie ‘Patrick’s Day’. He is pictured on the right of our picture with actor Moe Dunford on the left.
There was a full house at the screening in the Mullingar IMC, which was organised by the RTÉ Guide. Writer/director Terry and lead actor Moe Dunford received two standing ovations from the crowd after the screening, with many in attendance moved to tears by the powerful film and its ambiguous, moving ending. RTÉ’s film editor Michael Doherty, who conducted a post-screening Q&A with the pair afterwards, noted the audience reaction was one of “shell shock” and he urged them to spread the word about this modern masterpiece. Terry was overwhelmed by the reaction afforded him on his home patch, admitting he was very nervous beforehand, particularly as he grew up a few hundred metres down the road.
The thought-provoking film tackles mental health issues head-on, telling the story of ‘Patrick’, a patient at a psychiatric hospital who falls in love with an air hostess. Those who care for him don’t want him to experience intimacy and love and the film tells the often harrowing tale of what lengths they will go to to ensure this. Already a hit internationally, and a winner of several awards at film festivals, ‘Patrick’s Day’ is on national release this Friday, February 6.
