KINGS, TOM Collins acclaimed 2007 feature film, and starring Colm Meaney, is now streaming as part of the Galway Film Fleadh's Solstice programme.
In the mid 1970s, a group of six young men left their homes in the West of Ireland, took the boat out of Dublin Bay and sailed across the sea to England in the hope of making their fortunes and returning home. Thirty years later, only Jackie Flavin makes it home – in a coffin. Jackie's five friends reunite at his wake, where they are forced to face up to the reality of their alienation.
Written and directed by Tom Collins, and based on the play The Kings of the Kilburn High Road by Jimmy Murphy, Kings was the first Irish language feature film to be put forward by Ireland for Oscar consideration.
“Solstice has been a massive hit with the Irish diaspora in all corners of the world, and as such, we decided to add another feature which speaks directly to their experiences," said Fleadh programme director William Fitzgerald. "Among the many Irish films with motifs of emigration, trans-national identities, and memory, Kings fits nicely with the idea behind Solstice, particularly around reacquainting audiences with Irish language cinema."
Solstice, the Fleadh’s winter season of Irish cinema from the 1970s to the noughties, is streaming worldwide on GalwayFilmFleadh.com and on the Galway Film Fleadh app. Films can be rented until January 21.
