Love & Mercy explores the troubled life of Brian Wilson

Love & Mercy, an unconventional portrait of Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys, is being screened at the City’s Town Hall Theatre on Monday, January 11 as part of the First Fortnight festival.

First Fortnight, promoting a creative response to mental health issues and discussions around mental health, is mostly based in Dublin – this screening is one of the few events taking place in other cities and towns countrywide.

Set against the era-defining catalogue of Wilson’s music, Love & Mercy examines the troubled journey and ultimate salvation of the icon whose success came at a very high personal cost.

Starring Paul Dano, John Cusack, Paul Giamatti and Elizabeth Banks, Love & Mercy examines two key periods in Wilson’s life.

In the 1960s, as the Beach Boys’ leader, Wilson struggled with emerging psychosis as he attempted to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece, Pet Sounds. In that era, he is played by Dano.

For the film’s second period, Wilson is played by John Cusack and is a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist, the Svengali-like Dr Eugene Landy, played by Pail Giamatti. Wilson is rescued from this situation thanks to a chance meeting with Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks) who became his second wife,

Love & Mercy, which was released earlier this year, received a warm response from the critics with the Observer’s Mark Kermode praising it for offering “a healing vision of a troubled musician”.

It will be screened on January 11 at 8pm. Tickets costing €9/€7 from tht.ie, 091-569777 and at the venue.