ENTERTAINMENT: Castlebar’s Linenhall Film Club announces new movie line-up

The long-running and ever-popular Linenhall Film Club at the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, returns this month with a wonderful variety of fortnightly screenings to entertain Mayo audiences in the weeks and months ahead.
The new season starts next Tuesday, January 14, with ‘My Favourite Cake’, a heart-warming and poignant Iranian film about 70-year-old Mahin, a widow in Tehran navigating the challenges of old age and loneliness. When Mahin is denied a visa to visit her daughter in Europe, she embarks on an unexpected journey with taxi driver Faramarz, leading to a night that changes both their lives.
Directed by Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha, with a captivating performance by Lily Farhadpour, themes of love, aging, and personal empowerment are beautifully demonstrated. Reviewing the movie, the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw described it as ‘wonderfully sweet and funny’ and simply ‘a lovely film’.
Next up, is the critically acclaimed ‘King Frankie’, on Tuesday, January 28, offering audiences a moving exploration of personal loss, regret, and redemption. Directed by Dermot Malone, the film follows Frankie, once a wealthy businessman during the Celtic Tiger years, who now lives a modest life after the economic collapse. The death of his father brings old friends and painful memories back into his life, forcing him to confront the trauma of his past.
‘Love/Hate’ star Peter Coonan puts in a stellar performance as the troubled but sympathetic Frankie, alongside Owen Roe, Olivia Caffrey, and Ruairí O’Connor. ‘King Frankie’ is a compelling character study combining warmth with tension. The Irish Independent’s Chris Wasser describes it as ‘a nervy, tension-fuelled melodrama with big themes and a bigger heart’.
An unlikely tale of redemption, ‘Black Dog’, directed by Guan Hu, screens on Tuesday, February 11. The film is set in a desolate town near the Gobi Desert. The central character, Lang, who is recently released from prison, joins a team rounding up stray dogs ahead of the Beijing Olympics – and he forms an unexpected bond with a rabid dog he captures.
Full of is striking visuals, this multi-genre film successfully blends Western, noir and comedy elements. Central to its impact are the performances of actor Eddie Peng and the canine co-star, Xin, balancing drama and humour superbly.
Other titles scheduled for the season include: ‘Bird’ on February 25, ‘Snow Leopard’ on March 11, ‘The Tasting’ on March 25, and ‘Small Things Like These’ on April 8. ‘Anora’ will close out the season on April 22.
Individual tickets to screenings cost €7, but for those eager to enjoy all eight screenings, a season ticket can be purchased for €35 by contacting the Linenhall box office on 094 902 3733.
Details of the Linenhall Arts Centre’s extensive programme for 2025, which includes theatre, music, visual art, comedy and much more, can be viewed at www.thelinenhall.com or by picking up a print copy at the venue.