Thriller inspired by legendary love story

Pursuit, a modern re-imagining of The Pursuit of Diarumuid and Gráinne, which was shot in Galway and premiered at this year’s Film Fleadh Fleadh, opens nationwide this Friday, September 18.

In this version, written and directed by Paul Mercier, the ancient Irish legend is modernised so that Gráinne becomes the daughter of a Dublin crime boss. Rather than marry her father’s middle-aged lieutenant Fionn, she flees with his bodyguard Diarmuid.

Paul Mercier’s award winning Passion Machine Company was at the forefront of the Irish theatre scene in the 1980s and 1990s, so top actors were keen to be part of this film project. They include Barry Ward who plays Diarmuid and Ruth Bradley who plays Gráinne.

Liam Cunningham plays Fionn, worked on Pursuit during time off from playing Davos on Game of Thrones.

Three-time IFTA winner and Emmy winner Brendan Gleeson plays the character Searbhán, the hated villain who the young couple meet on their escapade.

With names such as Dara Devaney, Don Wycherley, David Pearse and Owen Roe, as well as lots of Galway locations, this is one that will appeal to fans of Irish cinema.

■ Pursuit is at the IMC Omniplex on the Headford Road from this Friday.