95mins : 1997

Johnny Gogan's debut feature, released in cinemas in Ireland and France in 1998 and 1999, is above all a homage to a buried piece of recent Irish musical and social history. It features a disparate set of characters whose main ambition is to flee the conformity of suburban life and the influence of a resurgent Pope.

Dublin 1979, While the whole neighbourhood embarks to the Pope's mass, punkette Reena ducks out out of the Papal visit and takes to the deserted streets of her suburb. She meets up with Jessop and by the time her parents return the "Pope in the Park" Reena and Jessop have sealed their alliance in Jessop's bed.
Three Years later, managed by Renna and with Jessop as iconclastic lead singer their post-punk combo with Petie and Joe have risen to 'big band in a small town status'. Petty tensions within the band arise after another eviction from yet another dodgy venue. Billy Byrne, back from a failed musical venture in London, moves in on nthe band's drummer while a visiting A&R man from London compromises Reena. Just as they are about to find real success, love interests, jealousy, insecurity, dodgy deals and sudden death conspire against the band.
Ten years later Reena returns from New York for the funeral of her Grandmother and later in the company of Jessop they retarace the steps of their youth through the city and confront the spirits and demons of their shared past.
In addition to an original score by Cathal Coughlan the strong soundtrack features tracks by Sinead O'Connor, the Undertones, the Radiators and Linton Kwesi Johnson. The title song for the film by Johnny Gogan and performed by Cathal Coughlan was released in France in a selection of the top 20 film songs from 1998.

A sole Bandit Films production for WDR, RTE and Beyond Films, the film was produced by Paul Donovan.

Now available for download in Ireland and Germany from Molotov Digital.