Since 2003 Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy (desperare
optimists) have been working on a unique community film project.
Civic Life is a series of seven short films each
shot in a day on 35mm and making daring use of the long-take.
Working with 35mm equipment, comlex film rigs and locations, not
to mention hundreds of extras and a propensity for wroking with
both children and animals, they have generated a body of work
that is both theatrical and deeply cinematic, experimental and
highly accessible. As well as the original seven films in the
series, Molloy and Lawlor have also completed Daydream
in 2006 and Joy in
2008 and their debut feature film, Helen
in 2008.
Who Killed Brown Owl
UK | 2004 | 9:23
A sunny day by the riverbank - the perfect English arcadia gives
way to varying kinds of misfortune, disruption and violence. Who
Killed Brown Owl won the Best British Short Film award at the
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2004.
Moore Street
IRL | 2004 | 5:45
A woman walks through a deserted Dublin market street at night.
A quietly powerful meditation on what it means to belong to a
new city and a new country.
Revolution
UK | 2005 | 10:16
A technically astonishing circular shot depicts how a community
fete descends into chaos and mayhem, and there's a gorilla in
the library.
Twilight
UK | 2005 | 5:22
On a boat on the Tyne during the time that cinematographers call
'The Magic Hour', a group of friends listen to a revelation.
Town Hall
UK | 2005 | 10:35
It's open day at the town hall, and we go on a dazzling visual
journey through its mazelike corridors and rooms in a celebration
of community expression.
Now we are grown up
UK | 2005 | 11:40
Commissioned to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Cornerhouse
Arts Centre in Manchester, this film places a bunch of 20 year
olds in a room, where they tell each other stories of confusion,
love, pain and experience.
Leisure Centre
IRL/UK | 2006 | 17:42
A young man returns to his workplace after a life-changing event.
Walking from one end of the Leisure Centre to the other becomes
a compelling emotional journey with a stunning finale.