xSmodcastle Film Festival - Block 25

poster for xSmodcastle Film Festival - Block 25 THE INVENTION (19:00)

In 1960s Belfast, a young boy comes of age while devising a plan to steal cigarettes.

Inspired by a true story, The Invention takes place in Belfast during the summer of 1968. We follow the exploits of Frankie, a mischievous and resourceful young boy who’s more than happy to spend his summer listening to his record player (“the devil’s business”, as his granny calls it) or playing with his friends Eamon and Paul. Things change for Frankie, however, when his kind but troubled father finds himself in debt to a local gangster. Before long, Frankie concocts the perfect plan to solve his family’s troubles. It’s a plan that involves high-stakes poker, bamboo sticks, and bacon. A lot of bacon.

A nostalgic look back at a simpler time that deftly blends humour and pathos, The Invention is a heartwarming coming-of-age tale that seeks to answer the age-old question: how far are you willing to go to protect your family?



WIN A TRIP TO BROWNTOWN (1:34:00)

Frank Tsigas is a middle-aged family man and struggling novelist who can only see his life's shortcomings. On their 21st anniversary, his soft-spoken wife Laura surprises him with an offer: if he can lose 50 pounds in three months, she will give him a "unique" sexual adventure. As he struggles to lose the weight, Frank learns that the paths chosen in life's journey are more important than its final destination.

RUN TIME: 120 min