Opening in cinemas across the UK and Ireland last Friday, Fermanagh producer Brian J. Falconer’s new film Ordinary Love has been receiving rave reviews. Directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, Ordinary Love was written by Owen McCafferty and stars acclaimed actors Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter about his experience producing Ordinary Love, which is currently being screened at the IMC Enniskillen, Brian said: “Ordinary Love has been an amazing experience for me from start to finish. It’s been the hardest thing I have ever done but that tends to be my experience with every film, each more difficult than the last. It’s incredible that the film will be theatrically released across the world, starting with the UK and Ireland release on Friday, December 6.”

The film follows Joan (Manville) and Tom (Neeson), who have been married for many years. There is an ease to their relationship which only comes from spending a lifetime together and a depth of love which expresses itself through tenderness and humour in equal part. When Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer, the course of her treatment shines a light on their relationship as they are faced with the challenges that lie ahead and the prospect of what might become of them if something were to happen to her. Ordinary Love is a story about love, survival and the epic questions life throws at each and every one of us.

“Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson are considered the finest actors working at the minute so to have them together as a married couple in our film has been a dream,” commented Brian, adding: “I’ll always remember being on set for the first take seeing them sitting there and the camera rolling, that was when it all became very real to me. It felt like we had achieved something and I felt very privileged to be in that room, let alone be the producer.”

Ordinary Love, was filmed entirely on location in Northern Ireland with funding support from Northern Ireland Screen.

Sharing that he believes every film made in Northern Ireland is important for the north, Brian added: “Ordinary Love particularly so because it is created by home grown talent. Here is a film which has the focus of the industry, with Lesley Manville and Ballymena man Liam Neeson front and centre. Then you have Belfast directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn with the debut script from writer Owen McCafferty, one of Ireland’s greatest playwrights.”

He continued: “These people are at the top of their game, writing about here and working here and I think this is really important for young filmmakers coming up to see who maybe think, ‘oh I have to move to London if I want to make it’. Important films are made here and with a lot of hard work and passion, the upcoming film makers will be making the next ones.”

During one of his recent visits back home to Fermanagh, Brian met a young film enthusiast whose talent for writing caught his eye.

“I met Fionn in Enniskillen a couple of months ago and he really impressed me,” he said.

“He’s really interested in being a film critic and also writing his own stuff. So I invited him to come along to a special cast and crew screening of Ordinary Love in Belfast a couple of weeks ago. After I asked him what he thought and he said, ‘I’ll write you a review!’ I am really delighted that Fionn Hamill’s review has been published here today,” concluded Brian.."