After the Fall

Author(s): D.W. Dillon (NV) & Chris M. (NJ)
After The Fall

Produced by Frank Marshall
Directed by John Boorman
Written by Scott Frank
Music by Explosions in the Sky
Cinematography by Caleb Deshanel
Edited by Stephen Mirrione
Art/Set Direction by Dennis Gassner
Costumes by Patricia Field
Sound by Bob Beemer
Sound Effects Editing by Richard Hymns
Special Effects by Robert Lagato & Mark Lasoff
Original Music by Dolores O'Riordan

Principal Cast

Jack Nicholson as Adam Garrity
Sigourney Weaver as Vivian Faulkner
Hugh O'Conor as Liam O'Rielly
Nora-Jane Noone as Nessa O'Reilly
Sophie Okenedo as Evelyn Harvey
Robert John Burke as President Hennigan

Tagline: "We all fall down."

Synopsis: Caldera de Tuberiente, the plain-leveled volcanic cauldron is the notorious fixture of La Palma Island in the Canary's, off the coast of Spain. When it erupted, causing a mega-tsunami, nobody thought it could reach Ireland. The hundreds of thousands of Irish in seaside towns were now buried in a watery grave. Not even President Hennigan (Robert John Burke) survived the onslaught. With the country bleeding under an economic upheaval, vice president Vivian Faulkner (Sigourney Weaver) sought to bandage the gaping wound of what was once the proud Emerald Island that is Ireland, now the lawless land of old.

To see them come out of the woodwork from all directions would make any photo journalist's camera shake. To see street hooligans overwhelming local law enforcement, with more than half the military devoting all it’s resources to rebuilding major cities. The pickings were ripe to take over an ailing country. And that was when I, Liam O'Rielly (Hugh O'Conor), took my first picture of Mr. Adam Garrity (Jack Nicholson). After losing his wife and child in the tsunami, the excommunicated Catholic priest turned pub owner preacher spoke not the word of god, but of repent and re-order. His charismatic preaching reached the masses quickly, from propping himself a-top a milk carton in the middle of a town, then onto radio and television. He reminded me of my rebellious youth as a punk rocker protesting whatever society had to offer. His demand for the sinners and government conspirators to pay for the country's suffering as well as his own was his only goal, and I followed. Accompanied by his enigmatic associate, Evelyn Harvey (Sophie Okenedo), he would strike fear into the fearful, and uplift the weak into carrying out subtle acts of terror that would mirror the IRA and KKK of old. Evelyn had too, lost her family. Her hooded sweater covered her pain and anger, with only the darkness in her eyes piercing the lens of my camera. The only picture I would ever capture of Miss Evelyn would also be the most infamous.

When mass let out at the newly built St. Patrick's Cathedral in the rubble capital of Dublin, President Faulkner's speech to the public at the steps of the grand new church was to be a symbol of hope for the country. President Faulkner imagined an entire country that was truly green, in her heart and on earth. To my mentor, it was futile scientific nonsense that he deemed costly and irresponsible; to watch unsheltered people starve while the president took her time building recycling centers. But she spoke proud and we listened, and we took pictures, and the world had changed in an instant at the snap of my Canon 7 55mm lens as it caught Evelyn Harvey, dressed in religious garb, placing the barrel of her Luger to the head of a now proven leader.

The life I had lead through a camera that captured a dying nation came with a price. My darling wife Nessa (Nora-Jane Noone) now rested in the arms of the same man I had worshipped. A country lost another great leader, and my accomplishments, while rewarding, ailed me so. Now on the dole with nothing but painful and regretful memories, compiling the photos of all the atrocities at the behest of Adam Garrity opened my eyes; from the hangings, bombings, and assassinations to the brainwashing and manipulation of a nation... A man once so displaced with government now looked to run for President of Ireland as if he were their savior. But the public will come to know this man as I did, see as I saw...Not as my mentor, but as a true monster after the fall.

What the Press Will Say?:

The Round Table with Richard Schickel from Time Magazine: Featuring screenwriter Scott Frank, director John Boorman, actors Jack Nicholson and Sigourney Weaver, of "After the Fall"

Richard Schickel: Let us start with Scott Frank, what led you to write this devastating film about a volcanic eruption that causes a mega-tsunami that hits Ireland?

Frank: It was a combination of things; I caught this doomsday scenario on National Geographic and thought, "How would a country bounce back...", and the different variables that would encompass such an event. From society's behavior to the government's actions - It's more society vs. government than anything. They rebel in the form of Jack's character Adam Garrity, as he uses religion to influence the people, while the government attempts to pick up the pieces. Ireland's a proud country, who had great leaders like Eamon de Valera, and I think Sigourney's character embodies his vision of Ireland. Her character goes through a lot and she really is the backbone of the film.

Schickel: Sigourney Weaver, welcome, tell me about President Vivian Faulkner?

Weaver: She is one of those strong female characters that don't come along very often. The president and government's back-story before the mega-tsunami was pretty status quo. Her character breaks new ground, goes against the grain, ditches the advisors and begins an ambitious, yet dangerous journey. You got a nut in Jack's character who's become a growing threat, her cabinet looking to replace her, as well as the people not believing in her. Jack's character leads the bunch and let me tell you, I only have a few scenes with him; One in particular where we debate each other in the middle of a small town, we got so aggravated with one another in the scene, I believed we truly hated each other for a moment. I remember when John yelled cut my fists were clenched, I was ready to deck him. (Laughs)

*Jack Nicholson interjects*

Jack Nicholson: Richard, there's something to be said about a woman with that kind of a conviction. Really it's a brilliant scene between Sigourney and I - I'm there to stir the pot, up everyone's game and if that means hitting where it hurts, then I'm going for the gut.

Schickel: Your character Adam Garrity is a mixture of Hoffa and Daniel-Day Lewis' Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York. Were you inspired by any characters, fiction or otherwise?

Nicholson: (Laughs), funny you should ask that, I ran into Liam Neeson who visited the set, and told him about the role. He of course, played the famous Irish rebel Michael Collins and he more or less tells me I'm playing an evil Michael Collins. But Bobby Duvall's performance in The Apostle stayed with me, yeah...

Schickel: John Boorman, director of such classic and diverse films such as Deliverance, Excalibur and Hope & Glory, tell me, what drew you to this project?

Boorman: This film felt urgent – even though it’s completely fictional it read like it had happened, or could happen... If you’re looking for politics it has it. If you’re looking for religion it has it. The movie is done in such a way it doesn’t point fingers and is not judgmental, you, the audience is allowed to do all of that. As for shooting the film in Ireland and staying authentic and true to the culture, I mean, it's easy when you got the likes of great Irish actors who are a staple in their cinema with Hugh O'Conor who I first noticed playing a long Daniel-Day Lewis in My Left Foot. He is a fearless actor who takes chances and loves to battle the heavyweights on screen – and least we forget the talent that is Sophie Okenedo, who I must say gives that raw, brutally powerful performance. I think she surprised me most, you see when you meet her, she’s so soft spoken, you think she’s this delicate girl, then you watch her as Evelyn Harvey, and you are mesmerized.

*Jack Nicholson and Sigourney Weaver both nod in agreement.*

Schickel: The film has gotten some scathing attacks from religious groups such as the 700 club and the Evangelicals, and from Feminist groups, particularly with the controversial scene involving President Faulkner.

Boorman: I knew going into this that would stir the pot – but at the end of the day it’s just a movie. The movie has millions of meanings and if they want to focus on particular scenes and issue then let them. But at the end of the day, the movie must have been effective, if it’s creating this type of passion, then I guess we have done something right. Art is dangerous, it needs to challenge us, because if it's not making you think, its not art. There's a lot of trivia to this film from being inspired by the tornado that wrecked Greensburg, Kansas, where the community is now rebuilding an almost completely environmental friendly city, to Ireland's rebellious past and all those great disaster genre pictures like George Seaton's Airport.

Schickel: But it's much, much more. It starts out as a tragedy and ends bittersweet, but on the way it's a very politically charged period piece drama in the sense that the scenery is undeveloped because of the tsunami. The debates are held in places like a town center and over the radio, as if Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were campaigning for President.

Boorman: I think Scott Frank and I wanted to strip the nation and show the struggle to rebuild it.

Schickel Well, I think you succeeded and look forward to seeing it again. We are out of time, so I want to thank the stars of "After the Fall" for joining us, Jack Nicholson and Sigourney Weaver, writer Scott Frank and director John Boorman. Take care.

For Your Consideration
Best Picture
Best Director - John Boorman
Best Actor - Jack Nicholson
Best Actress - Sigourney Weaver
Best Supporting Actor - Hugh O'Conor
Best Supporting Actress - Sophie Okenedo
Best Original Screenplay - Scott Frank