featuring @anarchy_pr @lunapalacecinemas @britishfilmfest
There is something special about the experience of going to the cinema, and Once Upon A Time In A Cinema sets out to remind audiences exactly why that experience is worth preserving. Written and directed by David Gleeson, this charming Irish comedy-drama is a nostalgic celebration of the big screen, the people who bring cinemas to life and the communities that grow around them.
Set in 1980s Ireland, the film follows Earl Clancy (Colin Morgan), a struggling cinema owner facing what could be the worst Friday night of his life. With mounting financial pressures, an uncertain future for his family business, troublesome customers and a series of increasingly ridiculous disasters unfolding around him, Earl finds himself fighting to keep his beloved cinema afloat. Meanwhile, his brother Gerald (Calam Lynch) believes selling the property may be the only sensible way forward.
Told largely in real time during a screening of Breathless, the film embraces its theatrical setting, allowing the chaos behind the scenes to unfold alongside the movie playing on screen. It’s an entertaining concept that provides plenty of opportunities for humour while offering a glimpse into the unpredictable realities of running a traditional single-screen cinema.
Colin Morgan is a particularly engaging presence as Earl, bringing a mixture of frustration, and genuine affection to a character whose relationship with the cinema extends far beyond business. His performance helps ground the film’s more exaggerated moments, while the supporting ensemble adds plenty of personality to the colourful collection of characters passing through the theatre.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its atmosphere. The period production design, costumes and authentic cinema setting help transport audiences back to a different era, capturing a time when local picture theatres were important gathering places rather than simply somewhere to watch the latest release. There is an obvious affection for the history of cinema woven throughout the filmmaking, and Gleeson’s personal connection to the industry gives the story an added layer of sincerity.
However, beneath its comedic chaos, Once Upon A Time In A Cinema is ultimately a story about connection, nostalgia and the importance of preserving places that bring people together. While its storytelling occasionally leans towards familiar territory, its heart is firmly in the right place.
David Gleeson has crafted a warm and affectionate tribute to the cinematic experience, reminding us that movies have always been about more than what happens on the screen. Sometimes, it’s the people sitting beside us, the memories we create and the places we return to that make going to the movies so meaningful.
Screening as part of the British Film Festival.
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