Solitary is an Irish film from director Eamonn Murphy that follows the story of a widower who runs a farm on his own on the outskirts of a remote Irish town.
Quickly, his life is turned on its head when a gang of criminals set upon his home, terrorising him.
In an interview after the film’s premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh, Murphy spilt the details on the making of the film.
Film inspiration
Set in a remote part of Ireland, where the nearest help may be too far away in case of an accident, Murphy spoke on what drove him towards the theme of the film.
He said: “There’s a strange feeling when you’re accustomed to traffic noise and city life, and then you step outside at night in the countryside with no streetlights, no traffic- just surrounded by black silence. You feel unease in a guttural, instinctual sense.
“This was the first kernel of the idea: the realisation that if anything happens to you in the countryside, your nearest neighbour is probably a 10-minute drive away.”
The Irishman also added how he felt inspired by other directors, as he said: “I took a lot from Eastern European and Russian cinema.
“Filmmakers like Cristian Mungiu and Andrei Tarkovsky, where you’re allowing the drama to unfold in the frame rather than letting the camera or edit drive where the audience looks.”
A debut for Gerry Herbert
Gerry Herbert plays the titular character of Brendan, an elderly gentleman adjusting to life on his own. He runs his cow farm by himself, before the terror begins erupting around him, when he employs some help.
Herbert delivers a sobering and relatable performance as Brendan, in what is surprisingly his first role in a full-length feature film.
Speaking on how he landed on Herbert, Murphy said: “We did open auditions, and many actors from the stage tend to be very big and theatrical.
“When Gerry sent in his self-tape, he immediately understood what was necessary – a man hiding his emotions, saying he’s fine but clearly not fine, with a wall in front of him.”
The impact of making the film
Many of us may not consider that these projects can be exhausting feats of commitment and perseverance, and Murphy, along with his crew of just eight others, worked under strict time and budgetary constraints.
He said: “When I’m figuring out the shot list, I always ask: can I get the audience to understand the film if I remove all dialogue and sound?
“Can they piece together what’s happening based on the frame and lighting alone?”
He added: “This nearly killed me, honestly.”
“We sent Galway an unfinished film for judging. The night before they called, I told my girlfriend I didn’t know if I wanted to finish it. You go through so much struggle that it’s hard to maintain enthusiasm.
“But when Galway called, saying they wanted to screen the film – the best outcome for an independent Irish film – I had to pull over on the roadside. It didn’t feel real, but it was also terrifying because I realised I had to finish it.”
READ MORE – Manchester Film Festival: ‘Solitary’ delivers a sobering reality check
