There are plenty of romantic movies concerned with early and first loves – but what about your last love?
That’s what veteran Scottish actor James Cosmo - known for his long career including appearances in Game of Thrones and Braveheart - ventures into with his new romance My Sailor, My Love which hits cinemas in March shortly after appearing at the Glasgow Film Festival.
James, 75, stars as a former sailor and semi-recluse Howard, who lives on a remote and picturesque Irish island. He initially bristles at any contact outside of his daughter Grace played by Catherine Walker. However, when legendary Northern Irish actress Brid Brennan’s radiant caretaker Annie arrives on the scene his ice looks like it might begin to thaw.
Ahead of the “grey romance” film’s UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival we have a world exclusive clip for you, that can be viewed in the player above.
James, from Clydebank, “felt very privileged” making the film after being able to spend a week on Achill Island with Brid, Catherine and director Klaus Haro.
He said: “It was a huge benefit to spend that time, the four of us together, and it’s something that very rarely happens and maybe only on films of this nature, but to spend time with the other three participants in the location that we were going to be shooting it and [getting] the pace of that place was absolutely vital.
“Nearly all the films that I’ve worked on, there’s never been that regard for working with the actors before and getting to know each other and trust each other, so I just felt very privileged to be there.”
The new film is said to feature a heartwarmingly original romance and magnetic performances from it’s three leads Something producer Kaarle Aho noticed immediately: “The cast is fantastic. It’s hard to even describe the chemistry between our three actors.”
The film shares a connection with Martin McDonaugh’s The Banshees of Inisherin, as both were filmed in and around Achill Island, with My Sailor, My Love’s cast and crew working closely with and investing in local businesses whilst they were there filming.
The film is directed by award-winning director Klaus Haro, known for Letters to Father Jacob, voted by his native Finland as the “Most Touching Finnish film of the 21st Century” and was chosen to represent Finland at the 2009 Oscars. He’s won more than 60 prizes at festivals worldwide, including Ingmar Bergman personally choosing Haro to receive his award.
Haro had nothing but praise for his actors, mentioning that “Sometimes when I looked around, I could see the emotion brought to the surface after a take. Someone might have tears in their eyes, or the crew might burst into applause. The cast has been an immense joy.”
My Sailor, My Love has a stacked cast, with James Cosmo having won the BAFTA Scotland Award for his performance in Donkeys, while Brid Brennan is cited by The Irish Times as one of Ireland’s greatest actors. Performing with such nationally acclaimed actors was something that co-star Catherine Walker, who plays Howard’s daughter Grace, took away from the shoot: “It was a great privilege to work with James Cosmo and Brid Brennan, two actors I hugely admire. We worked together very organically, moving into our roles so effortlessly, making it feel like a true ensemble piece.”
My Sailor, My Love will be at the Glasgow Film Festival on March 3 and 4. It’s then released in cinemas on March 10.
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