Molloy and Lawlor: Further Beyond

‘Irish co-directors Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy take their unique approach to cinema to the next level with Further Beyond. An aptly titled work in every sense, this sui generis piece is by turns an essay film in the tradition of Chris Marker (San Soleil) and Patrick Keiller (London), a documentary, and a quirky drama about loss and exile. There’s moving footage of Lawlor’s late mother whose life is sketched here, riffs on ideas about photography and representation found in Susan Sontag and Walter Benjamin, and a series of cinematic “notes” or tests towards a biopic about the 18th-century Irish adventurer Ambrose O’Higgins (played by Jose Miguel Jimenez) that Lawlor and Molloy may or may not have ever intended to produce for real. Exceedingly playful and intellectually stimulating, Further Beyond is not for lightweights. But for those who care about film-making that pushes against what’s possible – and fundable – in an age of cautious, cookie-cutter comic-book franchises and safe-bet awards bait, this is essential viewing.’ – Leslie Felperin, The Guardian

Born in Dublin, Ireland Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy studied theatre in the UK in the late 80s. From 1992 to 1999 they toured six internationally acclaimed devised theatre shows. Between 2000 and 2003 they directed a number of episodic, interactive works for the internet, and large-scale community video projects for galleries. Between 2003 and 2010 we, produced, wrote and directed 10 acclaimed short films, under the title CIVIC LIFE.HELEN, our debut feature film, premiered at the 2008 Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Lawlor and Molloy’s second feature film, MISTER JOHN, features Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, The Wire) and Zoe Tay and was released in the UK and Ireland by Artificial Eye. In 2015 Lawlor and Molloy received a Reel Art Commission to make our debut documentary feature film, FURTHER BEYOND, which premiered at the Dublin Film Festival in February 2016.