"An occupation to make a documentary about an occupation." That line amidst the on-screen chaos depicted in Prospect House is a nifty summation of what awaits the viewer in one of the more unusual Irish films of the year. Last week, The Sweet East was the option for those seeking something different, this week it's writer-director Paul Mercier's turn to step up and sidestep.
This satire is the story of a ragtag bunch of filmmakers and conservationists staging a last stand in a soon-to-be-demolished country pile. As just-arrived actor Joe (Dara Devaney) gets in behind the hoardings of Prospect House, he'd be forgiven for turning on his heels, hitting the nearest coffee truck, and going home to the fire. Director and lead actor Lorcan (Barry Ward) is making it up as he goes along; rewrites are being done on the hoof, time is short, tempers are frayed. The happy-to-work - for nothing! - and baggage-free Joe is the outlier among the outliers. It's going to be a long night - if that generator ever arrives...
For a film that was itself tight on days and money, Prospect House moves much smoother than the production it depicts. It's pacy and pertinent, with Dara Devaney, Barry Ward, and Ciara Ivie deftly double-jobbing as the misfit collective's central trio and the historical figures they're supposed to portray - in between the off-camera arguments. Writer-director Paul Mercier, who made his bones as the head honcho of the storied Dublin theatre company The Passion Machine, is doubtlessly well-versed in productions flying by the seat of the pants, and the scattergun vibe here as everything goes wrong all the time is entertaining. It may even put your own organisational shortcomings in perspective.
Winner of Best New Irish Feature at last year's Cork International Film Festival, Prospect House deserves a bigger outing than two screens - that feels more like an escape than a release for a homegrown movie. Here's hoping the underdog spirit makes the jump from the screen to the real world.
Prospect House is screening at The Savoy Cinema, Dublin and IMC Cinema, Ballina.
