aiff_program09_interior.xp 3/2/09 3:55 PM Page 43
Eden Happy Birthday Harris Malden
85 minutes a73 2008 a73 Ireland 80 minutes a73 2008 a73 USA a73 In Competition
Thursday 9:40p
a73
Friday 12:40p
a73
Sunday 9:40p Thursday 3:10p
a73
Friday 12:10p
a73
Saturday 9:10p
Sunday 6:10p
a73
Monday 6:10p
f
Plays with: 34 x 25 x 36 (p17)
e
Directors/Screenwriters/Producers/Editors: Juan Cardrelli, Ben Davidow, Nick Gregorio, a
Director: Declan Recks
Eric Levy, Matthew Sanchez a73 Cinematographer: Matthew Sanchez a73 Music/Composer: Joe
tures
a73 Producer: David Collins a73 Screenwriter: Eugene O’Brien a73
Cinematographer: Owen McPolin
Lentini, Jesse Novak a73 Principal Cast: Juan Cardarelli, Ben Davidow, Nick Gregorio, Eric Levy
a73 Editor: Gareth Young a73 Music/Composers: Hugh
Drumm, Stephen Rennicks
a73 sweatyrobot.com/hbhmwebsite
a73 Principal Cast: Lesley Conroy, Padraic Delaney, Sarah Greene,
Aidan Kelly, Kate O’Toole, Enda Oates, Karl Shiels, Eileen Walsh a73 edenthefilm.com
Harris Malden fakes his facial hair by sketching it on with a big,
An Irish couple grows distant, in this beautiful and moody film.
black magic marker. He wears his insecurity on his face in a
This adaptation of Eugene O’Brien’s play explores the slow,
curious disguise for everyone to see. No one in his Philadelphia
delicate dissection of a marriage in peril. In a small provincial
neighborhood, not even his best friend Paul or his brother
town, Billy and Breda are approaching their 10th wedding
Melvin, has the heart to tell him how ridiculous he looks with
anniversary. With two young children, their married life has
the thick black lie above his lip.
disintegrated into a stale monotony, and the distance between
On Harris’ 25th birthday, the decorations are in order, and the
them grows wider by the day.
guests will be arriving soon. Harris acts surprised, even though
Billy clings to booze, fantasies, and his past glory as a local hero
everyone, including himself, knows about the party. It is a 43
who rescued a child from drowning in a river. Breda holds onto
tradition and holiday for Franklin Street. Except this year,
an inkling of optimism for the future, believing their anniversary
Susan, Paul’s girlfriend, is attending…and their lives will never
will offer the perfect chance to fix their problems. As the big day
be the same again. This quirky comedy is about a community—
approaches, the raw reality of their different needs and desires
a neighborhood, a family—both human and absurd, and their
is slowly uncovered in this bittersweet film. Eden, like marriage
unconditional acceptance and love.
itself, reveals how sometimes the little things matter most. [adult
content, language]
Juan Cardrelli, Nick Gregorio, Ben Davidow,
Matthew Sanchez, Eric Levy
Declan Recks
Directors’ Statement
Director’s Statement
Sweaty Robot, the company behind
Eden first came to my attention as an as yet
Happy Birthday, Harris Malden
un-produced play by Eugene O’Brien.
(HBHM) is a five man filmmaking
Eugene’s play, which was written as two
collective. We operated under the
monologues, struck me immediately as
idea that a checks and balance system of talent, with each
something I would like to try and adapt for
member bringing their own brand of humor, storytelling, and
film. The play was set in a world familiar to me, the midlands
cinematic interpretation, would be a productive venture. When
of Ireland. The feeling of inevitability in Billy’s drunken
producing HBHM we worked backwards from the budget. But
journey was something I felt that males could identify with.
while script came from budgetary restrictions, ideas and
While Breda’s desire for Billy just to come home with her,
creativity was never curbed. The goal was to create a monetarily
would ring true for many women.
manageable project with the production value of a Hollywood
film, but with unique sensibility. The world was created from
The biggest challenge in adapting the play was moving away
accessible and mostly free locations. The characters were
from the monologue form. Finding a way to portray the central
written, for the most part, with specific actors in mind.
characters’ inner lives in a visual way and fleshing out the
peripheral characters who were only ever referred to in the
On set, each member of Sweaty Robot had their strengths and
play. But with Eugene’s script, the cinematography and the fine
weaknesses. While there was the occasional dispute that arose
performances, I believe we’ve captured the feeling of the
from five chefs in the kitchen, the end result is a solid film with
original work and hopefully brought a new dimension to it.
a singular unified vision.
Filmography: Big Swinger, Clara Bog, Exile, Quando, Sunny’s Deliverance
Filmography: Directorial Debuts
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