{{Infobox film | name = Between the Canals | image = Between The Canals poster.jpg | caption = Official poster | director = Mark O'Connor | writer = Mark O'Connor | starring = Peter Coonan, Dan Hyland, Stephen Jones, Damien Dempsey | studio = Irish Film Board | distributor = Avalon Films<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 March 2011 |title=''Between the Canals'' (2011) |url=https://www.ifco.ie/en/ifco/pages/CE52353F00496385 |access-date=15 October 2025 |website=Irish Film Classification Office}}</ref> | released = {{Film date|df=y|2010|2|24|Jameson Dublin|2011|3|18|Ireland}} | runtime = 88 minutes | country = Ireland | language = English | budget = | gross = }} '''''Between the Canals''''' is a 2010 Irish crime film written and directed by Mark O'Connor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2010/0222/1224264938295.html|title = From mainstream to cutting edge| newspaper=The Irish Times }}</ref>
==Plot== The film follows three small-time criminals as they pinball their way about Dublin on a boozy Saint Patrick's Day. Liam (Dan Hyland) is plotting an escape from minor villainy. Dave (Peter Coonan) hopes to move up the criminal pecking order, while Scratcher (Stephen Jones) seems happy to coast.
==Cast== * Peter Coonan as Dave Fennel * Dan Hyland as Liam Mulligan * Stephen Jones as Scratcher * Damien Dempsey as Paul Chambers * Barry Keoghan as Aido
==Production== The film was shot in a speedy, mobile style around Sheriff Street, Dublin. During the films production, O’Connor spent two years working with the After School’s Project in Sheriff Street, alongside Irish Actor Peter Coonan. O’Connor stated that during their time with the group they witnessed many teenagers from normal families who had taken a wrong turn. On one particular day, while shooting the film, they witnessed a teenager on a BMX shoot a man dead in a car in the same spot Peter Coonan’s character ‘Dots’ was supposed to be killed off the next day. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Director Mark O'Connor discusses his new crime drama, Darklands {{!}} The Irish Film & Television Network |url=https://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4293004&tpl=archnews&force=1 |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=www.iftn.ie}}</ref>
==Release== The film premiered at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival on 24 February 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.movies.ie/articles/jdiff_2010__highlights_from_this_years_jameson_dublin_international_film_festival |title=JDIFF 2010 - Highlights from this years Jameson Dublin International Film Festival - Articles - Movies.ie |accessdate=2011-02-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125448/http://www.movies.ie/articles/jdiff_2010__highlights_from_this_years_jameson_dublin_international_film_festival |archivedate=2011-07-21 }}</ref> It was released in Irish cinemas on 18 March 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/irish_film_industry/news/Four_New_Irish_Feature_Films_to_Hit_Cinemas_in_March_/1533 |title=Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hÉireann - About Irish Film / News / Four New Irish Feature Films Hit Cinemas in March |access-date=2011-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318100103/http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/irish_film_industry/news/Four_New_Irish_Feature_Films_to_Hit_Cinemas_in_March_/1533 |archive-date=2011-03-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Reception== The film has received strongly positive reviews. ''The Irish Times'' stated "Inner-city Dublin has often been the subject of Irish films, but few previous releases have got so close to the exhaust fumes, car alarms and fag ash."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0227/1224265259368.html|title=Ireland's art films, fag ash and all|newspaper=The Irish Times|archive-date=2012-10-23|access-date=2020-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023072708/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0227/1224265259368.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Entertainment.ie called it "a rough-and-ready drama that's a cross between ''Mean Streets'' and ''La Haine''."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://entertainment.ie/movie_review/Between-The-Canals/7455.htm |title=Between the Canals - Cinema, Movie, Film Reviews - Review by Gavin Burke | Entertainment.ie Ireland |access-date=2011-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326234940/http://entertainment.ie/movie_review/Between-The-Canals/7455.htm |archive-date=2011-03-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20110219023429/http://www.betweenthecanals.com:80/}} * {{IMDb title|1787054|Between the Canals}}
Category:2010 films Category:Irish crime drama films Category:2010 crime drama films Category:Films set in Dublin (city) Category:Saint Patrick's Day films Category:2010 English-language films Category:2010 Irish films Category:English-language crime drama films
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