Shooting in Dublin for 8 weeks. Produced by Hell’s Kitchen. Financed by Universal and Irish Government Tax Incentives.

Synopsis: THE SMILING SUICIDE CLUB follows a month in the life of a 19-year old suicide patient, who is admitted to a psychiatric hospital by his older brother, following their father’s death. During the course of therapy, which Jonathan believes to be bogus, he meets and befriends two other teenage patients, one of whom he falls in love with and in doing so, discovers a reason to live.

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Tricia Vessey, Jonathan Jackson, Stephen Rea, Gerard McSorley

Dublin, 16th December, 1999: Eight weeks of principal photography is currently underway in Dublin on The Smiling Suicide Club, which John Carney directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Daniel James. Produced by Dublin-based Hell’s Kitchen, The Smiling Suicide Club is financed by Universal Studios and Irish Government Tax Incentives.

The Smiling Suicide Club centres on a month in the life of Jonathan Breech, a 19-year old suicide patient, who is admitted to a psychiatric hospital by his older brother, following their father’s death. During the course of therapy, which Jonathan believes to be bogus, he meets and befriends two other teenage patients Rachel and Toby. Jonathan falls in love with Rachel and, in doing so, discovers a reason to live.

Boasting a cast of talented young newcomers and seasoned professionals, Irish actor Cillian Murphy (The Trench, Saltwater, Sunburn, Sweety Barrett) helms in the role of Jonathan. Joining Murphy are Tricia Vessey (Bean, The Brave, Kiss The Girls), Jonathan Jackson (The Deep End of the Ocean), Oscar and Golden-Globe nominee Stephen Rea (The Crying Game, Interview With The Vampire) and Gerard McSorley (Angela’s Ashes, The Boxer, Michael Collins, Braveheart).

27-year old director John Carney has garnered several awards as a writer and director for his two short comedy films Shining Star and Hotel. His first feature, November Afternoon was awarded Best Feature by The Irish Times in 1997. Carney’s most recent project, Park, a controversial story examining a paedophilia case in Ireland, premiered at the Dublin Film Festival this year and is screening at the Montréal Film Festival and New York Film Fleadh.

Produced by Jim Sheridan and Arthur Lappin’s Hell’s Kitchen, which was formed in 1992 following their collaboration on My Left Foot and The Field, the two have enjoyed enormous success, developing over 20 feature films including In The Name of the Father, Some Mother’s Son, The Boxer and Agnes Browne.

Sheridan and Lappin are joined by Ed Guiney who produced the Toronto and San Sebastian Film Festival hit, Sweety Barrett last year.

Crew

Producers
Jim Sheridan
Arthur Lappin
Ed Guiney

Line Paul Myler
Producer

Director John Carney

Writers Daniel James & John Carney

DOP Eric Edwards

Production Brian Morris
Designer

Production Breda Walsh
Manager

1st A/D Konrad Jay

Script Supervisor Catherine Morris

Sound Recordist Dan Birch

Make-up Maire O’Sullivan

Costume Designer Lorna Marie Mugan

Editor Dermot Diskin