Rosa and David are two souls stuck in limbo in a dystopian port city, desperately trying to find a rare ticket that will allow them to return to their former lives. As they navigate through the city, they encounter various islanders, piece together their lost memories and are confronted with their personal demons. The cinematic presentation alternates between sharp black and white, emphasizing the bleakness of their surroundings, and vivid Super-8 quality splashes of color, symbolizing memories and moments of life. These stylistic choices, combined with a story deeply rooted in Irish culture while touching on themes of emigration and identity, provide a rich texture that is both visually and narratively compelling. HOLY ISLAND had its world premiere at the 66th Cork Film Festival in 2021 and has since screened at several international festivals including India, Spain and the USA. The film has attracted particular attention for its unique narrative structure and visual design and represents a remarkable contribution to contemporary Irish cinema. With his second feature film, Robert Manson cements his reputation as a visionary filmmaker who pushes the boundaries of traditional narrative cinema to tell profound, culturally resonant stories. Director Robert Manson took inspiration from Buneal's “The Obscure Object of Desire” in casting the lead role. The lead role of David is played by two actors. The first half is played darkly and melancholically by an older actor. Then there is a change and a younger actor takes over the role.
Rosa and David, two lost souls, try to escape purgatory. But only one of them can be saved in the end.
Rosa and David are two souls stuck in limbo in a dystopian port city, desperately trying to find a rare ticket that will allow them to return to their former lives. As they navigate through the city, they encounter various islanders, piece together their lost memories and are confronted with their personal demons.
The cinematic presentation alternates between sharp black and white, emphasizing the bleakness of their surroundings, and vivid Super-8 quality splashes of color, symbolizing memories and moments of life. These stylistic choices, combined with a story deeply rooted in Irish culture while touching on themes of emigration and identity, provide a rich texture that is both visually and narratively compelling.
HOLY ISLAND had its world premiere at the 66th Cork Film Festival in 2021 and has since screened at several international festivals including India, Spain and the USA. The film has attracted particular attention for its unique narrative structure and visual design and represents a remarkable contribution to contemporary Irish cinema. With his second feature film, Robert Manson cements his reputation as a visionary filmmaker who pushes the boundaries of traditional narrative cinema to tell profound, culturally resonant stories.
Director Robert Manson took inspiration from Buneal's “The Obscure Object of Desire” in casting the lead role. The lead role of David is played by two actors. The first half is played darkly and melancholically by an older actor. Then there is a change and a younger actor takes over the role.