The director of a new film about two brothers who set out to murder a TD has said it does not glorify political violence in any way.
‘Suit Hung. Tied Tongue' is the first feature film from Dublin director Sau Dachi.
The synopsis of the film reads: "What if all the variables collided - you’re not able to buy a house (ever), lost your only parent due to a government failing, lost in depression and anxiety and you went on to murder a TD who, in your view, has failed the people.
"That’s what new Irish film ‘Suit Hung. Tied Tongue.’ examines; the horrific concept that violence could happen at any time in these politically polarised times.
"It’s a cautionary tale about two brothers who become anarchically radicalised against the state. The fall-out from their crimes brings national outrage, disgust and support."
Speaking to BreakingNews.ie, Mr Dachi said the story is dark, and does not glorify political violence.
"If anyone said that, they probably haven't seen the film. There was a good bit of care with the harsher moments to make sure it's not glorifying anything in the film... the music helps with that as well.
"It's certainly not a hate piece. A lot of time was taken to make it down the middle. There are lots of viewers who hate the brothers, and others who support them.
"People who have seen the film recognise a lot of care was taken to make it a hard-hitting piece about what can happen. When we were editing the film there was the news about politicians getting extra protection. I was reading that thinking 'my God'."
Mr Dachi's idea was originally to make a short film, but the project developed into a feature.
He hopes for a cinematic release this year, and Suit Hung. Tied Tongue has already enjoyed success at a number of film festivals.
It has been shown at the Richard Harris Film Festival with a nomination for Lead Role for Paul St Leger and has won ‘Best Feature Film’ at the Underground Film Festival.
Suit Hung. Tied Tongue has also been nominated as ‘Best Genre Film’ at The Vancouver Badass Film Festival. The film was scored by Grammy nominee Dario Rodighiero.
Mr Dachi enjoys working with music, and he worked closely with Mr Rodighiero to ensure the tense score complimented the story.
The protagonists in the film lost their mother to cancer after she was affected by the Cervical scandal, and other themes such as the housing crisis also feature.
Mr Dachi said this adds to the real feeling of the story. The film was shot in Finglas, Malahide, the Liberties and Co Wicklow.
"A lot of the themes in the film are based on real stories of people I know. Most of them are first-hand accounts, bar the fictional part of the two brothers carrying out their plan.
"The whole goal was to make this very real. A lot of it is shot on high-end cameras. The cameras we use are the ones they used in Skyfall. However, it's mixed with very crude cameras, to get across the brothers filming themselves and stuff. There's lots of dash-cam footage, that type of stuff. We wanted it coming across as hyperrealistic, echoing The Blair Witch Project and that type of film.
"That's also a budget thing, which helped us. If we were to shoot it all on good cameras you would lose the vibe and style, but it would also be very expensive.
"It's a great contrast. All the high-end camera shots are in black and white, and then the crude stuff is colour but very degraded and horrible looking.
"The two lead actors, Paul St Leger and Alex Eydt, I was with them when we were shooting, but it was very free form acting. I had a few notes here and there, but I didn't want them to read off script. It's really natural, which is great.
"They'd come to me with ideas. We rented a house for three days, the brothers' house in the film, and it was just creating every day."
Mr Dachi hopes the film will get viewers thinking about issues we face as a society.
"Within the film, it's based on many true stories. I feel it's based on real feelings, I'm feeling vibes the kettle is fully boiled... that type of thing.
"Our main minister in the film gets across that he's telling the people what they want to hear but not acting on it.
"A lot of people were saying the ending was very sad. I wasn't expecting that reaction. I had all the opinions set in my mind, and they were all different [viewer reactions].
"Not a single person in the film had a full script, they all had their own. I was getting hounded by the actors asking where it was going. I had to tell them they'd see at the end.
"The themes should resonate with people. We wanted to make something hard hitting, abrasive, and unrelenting in its brutality. There is not a moment in this film that's nice, it's pretty much miserable from start to finish."
Making films on a small budget is always challenging, and Mr Dachi faced another obstacle when the final edit was lost following a hard drive crash.
However, he's proud of the finished product and feels it deserves a cinema release in 2024.
