| In the Land of Saints and Sinners | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Robert Lorenz |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Tom Stern |
| Edited by | Jeremiah O'Driscoll |
| Music by | Diego Baldenweg with Nora Baldenweg & Lionel Baldenweg |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
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| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
In the Land of Saints and Sinners is a 2023 Irish action thriller film directed by Robert Lorenz and written by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane. The film stars Liam Neeson in the lead role, alongside other Irish actors including Kerry Condon, Jack Gleeson and Ciarán Hinds. This is Neeson's second collaboration with Lorenz after the 2021 film The Marksman.
The film premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on 6 September 2023.
Plot
In the windswept, Irish coastal town of Glencolmcille, haunted ex-assassin Finbar Murphy seeks penance by leading a peaceful life.[1] He has carved out a new identity, tending to his pub and savouring the quiet. But the ghosts of his violent past refuse to stay buried.
When Doireann McCann, a IRA freedom fighter on the run, arrives with her brutal cohorts, the fragile peace shatters. The group seeks refuge, unaware of Finbar's history. But their arrival exposes a dark secret - Doireann's brother was killed by Finbar in an act of vigilante justice.
Fuelled by vengeance and grief, Doireann and her gang terrorise the villagers, culminating in a horrifying act of abuse against a young girl. Witnessing this injustice forces Finbar into a terrible choice: remain hidden and protect his own peace, or confront his past and risk everything to defend his newfound home.
A relentless game of cat and mouse ensues, testing the resilience of the villagers and pushing Finbar to the brink of moral reckoning. Torn between his desire for redemption and the violent skills he loathes, he must decide how far he is willing to go to protect the innocent and face the consequences of his past.
As the final showdown looms, Finbar confronts not only Doireann and her deadly vengeance, but also the demons of his own soul. In the harsh landscape of In the Land of Saints and Sinners, one man's path to redemption leads him through a brutal crucible, where saints and sinners collide in a desperate fight for survival.
Cast
- Liam Neeson as Finbar Murphy
- Kerry Condon as Doireann McCann
- Jack Gleeson as Kevin
- Ciarán Hinds as Vinnie O'Shea
- Sarah Greene as Sinéad
- Colm Meaney as Robert McQue
- Desmond Eastwood as Curtis June
- Niamh Cusack as Rita
- Conor MacNeill as Conan McGrath
- Seamus O'Hara as Séamus McKenna
- Mark O'Regan
- Valentine Olukoga
- Bernadette Carty
- Conor Hamill as Pat O'Donnell
- Anne Brogan
Production
In October 2021, it was announced that Liam Neeson would star in an Ireland set thriller film, re-teaming with director Robert Lorenz. Ciarán Hinds, who is a long time friend of Neeson, was also announced as starring in the film. In April 2022, Kerry Condon was announced as part of the cast.[2] The screenplay was written by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane, with revisions by Matthew Feitshans. Principal photography was lined up for March 2022 in Ireland.[3] In 2022, the film was primarily shot in County Donegal, with additional filming in Dublin.[4]
Release
The film premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on 6 September 2023.[5] In April 2022, Netflix was revealed to have pre-bought the film's distribution rights in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.[6]
References
- ↑ Leishman, Rachel (13 May 2022). "'In the Land of Saints and Sinners': First Images Reveal Liam Neeson and Ciarán Hinds on a Mission". Collider. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (19 April 2022). "'Three Billboards' & 'Better Call Saul' Actress Kerry Condon Joins Liam Neeson & Ciaran Hinds In Thriller 'In The Land Of Saints And Sinners'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (27 October 2021). "Liam Neeson To Star As Retired Assassin In Ireland-Set Thriller 'In The Land Of Saints And Sinners'; Ciaran Hinds Co-Stars — AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ↑ O'Brien, Mark (3 June 2022). "In the Land of Saints and Sinners: Dublin street transported back in time for Netflix movie starring Liam Neeson". Dublin Live. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ↑ Dillon, Brian (26 July 2023). "Liam Neeson thriller to premiere at Venice Film Festival". Irish Star.
- ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (22 April 2022). "Netflix, Metropolitan & Vertice Among Buyers Of Liam Neeson Thriller 'Saints & Sinners'; Cast Rounds Out With Filming Underway In Ireland". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 June 2022.