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.