Free copy of The Guard given to TDs and senators
The hit film has been billed as “like an encounter between Father Ted and Bad Lieutenant”.
Gleeson plays a garda who is, in the words of writer and director John Michael McDonagh, “an eccentric individual with a dying mother, a fondness for prostitutes and a heightened sense of the absurd”.
DVDs were delivered to every Oireachtas member this week as a festive gift from Element Pictures, the production company behind the film.
Ed Guiney of Element said the idea was to demonstrate to TDs and senators what continued political support for the Irish film industry could achieve.
The massive success of The Guard demonstrated that the industry could create jobs and pump money into the economy, he said.
Mr Guiney and his fellow producer, Andrew Lowe, enclosed a card with each DVD outlining their message to TDs. It reads: “Enclosed please find a copy of the DVD of The Guard, an early(ish) Christmas present from Element Pictures, producers and distributors of the hit Irish film.
“The Guard is the number 1 independent Irish box office hit of all time and is also finding audiences around the world including the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Benelux, South America, New Zealand and Australia. It still has to be released in a number of key territories and will gross in excess of $20m making it one of the most successful cultural exports in recent times.
“We would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of the state for the industry, particularly via Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board and section 481 Film Relief without which the film would not have been made.
“Along with other elements of state support these help drive crucial cultural exports and employment in the Irish economy and will be a key part of our future growth. We would also like to acknowledge the support of Culture Ireland and Enterprise Ireland in promoting the film internationally.
“We hope you enjoy the film.”
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