Tell It to the Fishes

Written and directed by William Sinclair
Produced by Chloë Mercier and Carol Murphy
Images by Damien Elliot
Edited by Paul Machliss
Music by Tanera Dawkins

with: Dylan Moran, Gerard McSorley, Marem Hernandez, Brigid Erin Bates, Ham Zanoun

Country: Ireland/UK

Year: 2006
Runtime: 10 minutes
Genre: Short
Format: 35mm
Colour/Mono
Optical Sound Dolby Digital

Tell it to the Fishes is short ten minute film, shot on location in Northern Ireland, that is both a morality tale and a black comedy. It gently examines not only issues of man’s eternal struggle against the natural environment and the internal struggle with his own nature, but also his fear and helplessness in the face of death. This quirky tragi-comedy is well worth seeking out for its humour and its unexpected warmth and charm.

Gangsters, Finn and Jack find themselves dumped unceremoniously on a deserted beach, their feet set in concrete. Abandoned to their fate, they watch the encroaching tide with desperation and resignation.

Dylan Moran and Gerard McSorley give outstanding performances as the protagonists who find themselves unable even at such a desperate juncture to invoke sympathy from passers-by, squandering each opportunity for salvation.

Moran’s Finn is both sympathetic and ruthless, displaying a wordless despair and ultimate acceptance of his fate. McSorley plays Jack with anger, defiance and cheeky humour. Both characters are touching, disturbing and at times, wildly comic as each deals with his imminent demise.

DVD extras include interviews with cast and crew and provide a fascinating insight into the perils of low-budget filmmaking.

This is the debut of director and writer William Sinclair and was awarded the RTE/Filmbase Short Script Award. The film is distributed by Laika Pictures.

Laika Pictures

Founded in 2004 by French Canadian producer/director Chloe Mercier, Laika Pictures is an independent London based production company specialising in the production of high quality documentaries, corporate videos and short films.
Laika Pictures also acts as a delegate production company for French and Canadian productions wanting to shoot in the UK.

Other films produced by Laika Pictures include:

Sea Coal
UK 2006 / 14 min.
Documentary on Northumberland's last seacoalers
Produced by Chloe Mercier and Edward King

Sex, Needles and Roubles
UK 2004 / 60 min. / Documentary
A journey to the cold winter nights of St.Petersburg where we meet with some of its young drug addicted prostitutes. Produced and Directed by Chloe Mercier