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While his name may not be the first to pop up in people’s heads when they hear “world-famous actor”, it’s hard to deny the impact that English actor Malcolm McDowell has had on the world of cinema. Making a name for himself with his portrayal of Alex DeLarge, the villainous protagonist of Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange”, McDowell has since built a long and respectable career as an actor, taking on such roles as H.G. Wells in the sci-fi cult classic “Time After Time”, Dr. Samuel Loomis in the 2007 remake of “Halloween” (as well as its sequel), and most recently, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch in the Fox News biopic “Bombshell”. Having a name as acclaimed as McDowell’s be a part of one of our films is a tremendous honor, which is why World Wide Motion Pictures would like to take this time to discuss a film of ours that would not be as strong as it is without Malcolm McDowell (not only as an actor, but also as an associate producer), 2003’s “Red Roses and Petrol”.
Taking place in Dublin, Ireland, the film revolves around the family of McDowell’s character, the recently deceased Enda Doyle. As the family gathers for Enda’s funeral, its dysfunctional nature begins to show as each family member scours through a series of video diaries meant to shed some light on Enda as a person. As the family (and the audience) learns more and more about Enda’s history, the relationships within increasingly sour, and the emotional twists and turns that ensue only make Enda a more complex and mysterious figure.
Throughout its run in the film festival circuit, “Red Roses and Petrol” has received its share of many awards and other forms of recognition. Its most distinguished honor was first prize at the Avignon Film Festival in Avignon, France, and it was also named a runner up at the Westwood Film Festival in Los Angeles. Among the other festivals the film was shown in are the Deauville Film Festival in Deauville, France; the American Film Institute Festival in Los Angeles; the Irish Film Festival in Boston; the Newport Beach Film Festival in Newport Beach, California; the Toronto Film Festival in Toronto, and the Palm Springs Film Festival in Palm Springs.
With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, there’s no better time to take a look at what Irish cinema has to offer, and “Red Roses and Petrol” is the perfect place to start. As the film is set in Ireland and contains multiple cast and crew members of Irish descent (most notably Flogging Molly and Susanna Hoffs, who provide the soundtrack), there’s no argument that the film thrives on Irish culture, and can be a great place to learn more about Ireland beyond the common stereotypes. Those interested can buy or rent “Red Roses and Petrol” here, and those still curious about what the film has to offer can learn more about it from its website here.
