‘Normal People’ and ‘Brassic’ star India Mullen steps behind the camera in her debut short, ‘Rear & Row’, which juxtaposes Ireland’s talented artists on and off screen.
Short story stars Maya O’Shea (Blade Runner 2099, Verdigris) and Toni O’Rourke (God’s Creatures, Gangs of London) play sisters navigating a recharging summer afternoon alone in Bray, Ireland.
RAW Inventive’s Benjamin Jacob Smith (“Twain,” “Night on the Fox,” “The Intimacy Coordinator”) will produce in association with Finite Films and Worldwhy LLC. Executive producers include Gabriella Kramer Kahn, Amy Gardner of Finite Films & TV, and Jenna Mack of Worldwhy.
“‘Lear & Roe’ brings together Ireland’s outstanding creative team and that level of collaboration will inevitably change the scope of the project. Our aim is to bring together new voices with collaborators who have shaped some of Ireland’s most internationally recognized films, contributing to the wave of Irish cinema that has acquired such a strong global voice in recent years,” said Smith.
Behind the lens, award-winning editor Nathan Nugent (Room, Oscar-nominated The Quiet Girl, Normal People) will be responsible for the cuts, and composer Stephen Lennix (Frank, The Quiet Girl, Good Luck With Leo Grande) will be responsible for the music. Eoin McLaughlin (The Ghost of Richard Harris, Fontaines DC Pictures) serves as cinematographer.
Set against the sunlit backdrop of Bray’s seaside, Leah & Roe follows Roe on a supervised day trip from a psychiatric hospital with her sister Leah for her 30th birthday. Amid the crowds of beaches, the noise of arcades, and childhood memories, Law tries to reconnect with his sister and the world from which he now feels alienated. According to the description, the film explores “themes of sisterhood and resilience portrayed through a quietly observing lens.”
“‘Lea & Row’ was born out of a conversation about the weird growth that happens at age 30,” Maren said. “When you emerge from the frivolity of your 20s, everyone suddenly feels like their paths are very divergent. Some buy a house or get married, others get sober or have moments of deep reflection. I wanted to explore that emotional gap and how alone mental health recovery can feel amidst societal pressures to ‘progress.'”
“Lia & Ro” is currently in post-production.
