''Zonad'' is a film by John Carney and Kieran Carney that premiered in July 2009 at the ''Galway Film'' Fleadh. The film went to general release in Ireland March 19, 2010.

Premise

An escaped convict fools a whole Irish village into thinking he's a visitor from outer space. Zonad, a strange visitor comes to the town of Ballymoran, is taken in by the Cassidy family and accepted by the locals as an extraterrestrial. His comfortable existence is spoiled when Bonad arrives to replace him.

Unreleased short film version

In 2003, John Carney co-wrote and co-directed an earlier version of ''Zonad'', a short film, with Kieran Carney and Tom Hall. Starring Simon Delaney and

Cillian Murphy Cillian Murphy (; born 25 May 1976) is an Irish actor. Originally the lead singer, guitarist, and lyricist of the rock band The Sons of Mr. Green Genes, he turned down a record deal in the late 1990s and began acting on stage and in short an ...

, ''Zonad'' was low-budget and was never released. Murphy played the role of Guy Hendrickson, later played by Rory Keenan.

Cast

Simon Delaney Simon Delaney (born 2 September 1970) is an Irish actor, director and television presenter. He is known for appearances in a range of films and television series such as RTÉ's comedy-drama ''Bachelors Walk'' and CBS' legal drama ''The Good Wife' ...

as Zonad, Liam Murphy. * David Pearse as Bonad, Francis O'Connor. Bonad is Zonad's superior officer. * Geoff Minogue as Dick Cassidy * Donna Dent as Mary Cassidy * Janice Byrne as Jenny Cassidy * Kevin Maher as Jimmy Cassidy * Rory Keenan as Guy Hendrickson * David Murray as Benson, Guy Hendrickson's loyal manservant. *

Don Wycherley Don Wycherley (born 15 September 1967, Skibbereen, County Cork) is an Irish actor. He played Father Cyril McDuff in ''Father Ted'', Father Aidan O'Connell in ''Ballykissangel'', and Raymond in '' Bachelors Walk''. Wycherley is a fluent Irish ...

as a police sergeant

Production

It was filmed in Avoca, Co Wicklow, with many of the outdoor scenes filmed in the garden of Kilqueeny House in the village. The interior bar scenes were filmed in ''The Harbour Bar'' in Bray, Co. Wicklow, which was also used in Neil Jordan's ''

Breakfast on Pluto ''Breakfast on Pluto'' is a 1998 novel by Patrick McCabe. The book was shortlisted for the 1998 Booker Prize, and was adapted for the screen by McCabe and Neil Jordan; Jordan directed the 2005 film. The author derived the novel's title from t ...

''.

Reception

Critical response

The

Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...

wrote "We laughed like the proverbial drain".

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

writer John Anderson describe it as a "nutroll of a comedy" made from equal parts '' Pleasantville'', ''

The Quiet Man ''The Quiet Man'' is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen. The screenplay by Frank S. Nugent was based on a 1933 '' Saturday ...

'' and the old ''

Carry On Carry On may refer to: * ''Carry On'' (franchise), a British comedy media franchise *Carry-on luggage or hand luggage, luggage that is carried into the passenger compartment * ''Carry On'' (film), a 1927 British silent film * ''Carry On'' (novel), ...

'' films. The

Evening Herald ''The Herald'' is a nationwide mid-market tabloid newspaper headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and published by Independent News & Media who are a subsidiary of Mediahuis. It is published Monday–Saturday. The newspaper was known as the ''Ev ...

wrote "Awful, and with a disturbingly sleazy undercurrent to boot".

Awards and recognition

Shortlisted for an Irish Film and Television Award (ITFA) with Brian Byrne winning for Best Original Score.

References

External links

* * * * {{John Carney Irish comedy films 2009 films 2009 comedy films 2000s English-language films Films shot in the Republic of Ireland Films set in Ireland Films directed by John Carney