Double Feature: Los Angeles Premiere! BAD DAY FOR THE CUT, IN THE NAME OF PEACE: JOHN HUME IN AMERICA at Aero Theatre

Double Feature: Los Angeles Premiere! BAD DAY FOR THE CUT, 2017, Well Go USA, 99 min. Dir. Chris Baugh. They say good men are hard to find – and maybe it’s better that way. This Sundance hit tells the story of Donal, a sturdy farmer who loves his aged mother, values hard work and is loyal, focused and tough. What he is not, under any circumstances, is someone to mess with. So when Donal’s monastic existence as the good son is tragically upended, his justice is bloody and thorough. Director Chris Baugh and his co-writer Brendan Mullin have created a film as deceptively simple as its hero. Set against the stark beauty of Northern Ireland, the story eschews cheap twists in favor of a slow and steady unveiling of the horrible truths hiding in plain sight. They’re aided by an able cast, especially lead actor Nigel O’Neill, whose performance is infused with the quiet rage of the overlooked.
Los Angeles Premiere! IN THE NAME OF PEACE: JOHN HUME IN AMERICA, 2017, 90 min. Dir. Maurice Fitzpatrick. By harnessing the political influence of the Irish-American diaspora in Washington, John Hume addressed the legacy of colonial division in Ireland to help achieve peace. This compelling documentary, narrated by Liam Neeson, shows how one man with courage and charisma, inspired by Martin Luther King, mobilized Irish-Americans and America to bring an end to years of bloody violence in his homeland. Featuring dramatic footage from the conflict in Northern Ireland, stirring accounts by U.S. presidents and congressmen, and a musical score by Bill Whelan (Riverdance), this timely film highlights creative leadership and the need for steady international cooperation to overcome hatred and division. Discussion following IN THE NAME OF PEACE: JOHN HUME IN AMERICA with director Maurice Fitzpatrick.