The Scottish play transferred and interpreted to modern day Northern Ireland.
And who’s to say Shakespeare is not universal, so?
DEAD MAN’S MONEY is a magnificent modern re imagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, that shows where there’s a will, there’s a play. Foul play. And certainly not fair play. Although fair is foul and foul is fair in this frighteningly good rendition.
When his ambitious wife Pauline sows the seeds of suspicion in his susceptible head, Young Henry becomes increasingly convinced that his wealthy uncle’s new companion, the Widow Tweed, will cut him out of Old Henry’s will and a powerful paranoia takes hold.
The normally sane and steadfast Young Henry hatches a ruthless plan to ensure the Widow never sees a penny of the inheritance he believes is his. But as Pauline’s guilt begins to surface, suspicion and fear start to poison the marriage and with trust dissipating, their scheme spirals into a chain of events from which none of them can return.
Surprised by sin, the suspicion of the deed, false confidence, false knowledge, what makes good of bad and friends of foes, DEAD MAN’S MONEY is a dead set banger.
Writer director Paul Kennedy has eschewed the embarrassment of the witches for equally embarrassing supernatural silliness of Catholic confession when Pauline plans to take full advantage of Catholicism, confess her sin, be absolved and rest in peace. What bollocks. Might as well believe in Birnam Wood.
Ciarán McMenamin is mercurial as the plotting publican, strutting the stage with a presence that murders sleep, while Judith Roddy is splendid as the conniving spouse, Pauline, by the pricking of her conscience, more evil this way comes.
Accursed be the tongue that does not tell you so, DEAD MAN’S MONEY is on the money and indicative of the movie treasure on show at this year’s Irish Film Festival.
FESTIVAL DETAILS
In Palace cinemas 9 October – 9 November:
Sydney – 9-12 Oct – Chauvel Cinema, Opening Night party 9 Oct
Tickets are now on sale. www.irishfilmfestival.com.au
Cinema tickets from $16 Online tickets from $10
