The Irish/Luxembourg co-production is the feature length adaptation of PJ Dillon’s and Pierce Ryan’s award-winning short ‘The Ranger’ which PJ Dillon also directed.
The film has received support from the Irish Film Board and Eurimages. Although PJ Dillon was originally attached as director of the feature, Lance Daly (Kisses) is at the helm, with Macdara Kelleher of Fastnet Films and Samsa Films in Luxembourg producing.
Set during one of the most treacherous years in Irish history, Black ’47 takes place during the height of The Great Famine in Ireland; the summer of 1847. Daly’s film tells the story of Feeney, a young Connaught Ranger who returns from fighting for the British to discover his family have been thrown off their land and left to die in a poor house. Seeking revenge, Feeney embarks on an explosive and destructive course of action but his own motives are called into question when a former British comrade, Hannah, is charged with relinquishing Feeney’s increasing volatility.
The film stars Hugo Weaving (who featured in Fastnet’s Australian shot 'Strangerland' which was DPd by PJ Dillon. Moe Dunford is also confirmed for the cast.
Scriptwriters are PJ Dillon and Pierce Ryan. with Eugene O'Brien (Eden) contributing additional material.
Daniel Hubbard (The Bourne Ultimatum) is Casting Director; Jonathan Loughran is producer alongside Macadara Kelleher; Robert Flanagan is Production Sound Mixer; ADs are Hannah Quinn (1st AD), Ciara Lyons (2nd AD), Sonja Otto (3rd AD).
The film is being shot in Luxembourg and in Ireland, with a scheduled finish date of 26th January 2017.