''Zonad'' is a film by
John Carney and Kieran Carney that premiered in July 2009 at the ''Galway Film'' Fleadh.
The film went to general release in Ireland March 19, 2010.
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Premise
An escaped convict fools a whole Irish village into thinking he's a visitor from outer space. Zonad, a strange visitor comes to the town of Ballymoran, is taken in by the Cassidy family and accepted by the locals as an extraterrestrial. His comfortable existence is spoiled when Bonad arrives to replace him.
Unreleased short film version
In 2003,
John Carney co-wrote and co-directed an earlier version of ''Zonad'', a short film, with Kieran Carney and Tom Hall. Starring Simon Delaney and
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy (; born 25 May 1976) is an Irish actor. Originally the lead singer, guitarist, and lyricist of the rock band The Sons of Mr. Green Genes, he turned down a record deal in the late 1990s and began acting on stage and in short an ...
, ''Zonad'' was low-budget and was never released.
[
] Murphy played the role of Guy Hendrickson, later played by Rory Keenan.
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Cast
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Simon Delaney
Simon Delaney (born 2 September 1970) is an Irish actor, director and television presenter. He is known for appearances in a range of films and television series such as RTÉ's comedy-drama '' Bachelors Walk'' and CBS' legal drama ''The Good Wif ...
as Zonad, Liam Murphy.
* David Pearse as Bonad, Francis O'Connor. Bonad is Zonad's superior officer.
* Geoff Minogue as Dick Cassidy
* Donna Dent as Mary Cassidy
* Janice Byrne as Jenny Cassidy
* Kevin Maher as Jimmy Cassidy
* Rory Keenan as Guy Hendrickson
*
David Murray as Benson, Guy Hendrickson's loyal manservant.
*
Don Wycherley as a police sergeant
Production
It was filmed in Avoca, Co Wicklow, with many of the outdoor scenes filmed in the garden of Kilqueeny House in the village.
[
] The interior bar scenes were filmed in ''The Harbour Bar'' in
Bray, Co. Wicklow, which was also used in Neil Jordan's ''
Breakfast on Pluto''.
Reception
Critical response
The
Irish Times
''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
wrote "We laughed like the proverbial drain".
Variety writer John Anderson describe it as a "nutroll of a comedy" made from equal parts ''
Pleasantville'', ''
The Quiet Man
''The Quiet Man'' is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen. The screenplay by Frank S. Nugent was based on a 1933 ''Saturday Eveni ...
'' and the old ''
Carry On'' films.
The
Evening Herald
''The Herald'' is a nationwide mid-market tabloid newspaper headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and published by Independent News & Media who are a subsidiary of Mediahuis. It is published Monday–Saturday. The newspaper was known as the ''Eve ...
wrote "Awful, and with a disturbingly sleazy undercurrent to boot".
Awards and recognition
Shortlisted for an Irish Film and Television Award (ITFA) with Brian Byrne winning for Best Original Score.
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References
External links
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{{John Carney
Irish comedy films
2009 films
2009 comedy films
2000s English-language films
Films shot in the Republic of Ireland
Films set in Ireland
Films directed by John Carney