Having its Irish premiere at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh, Stephen Burke’s second feature film MAZE tells the true story of the infamous 1983 prison breakout of 38 IRA prisoners from the infamous Maze Prison (aka Her Majesty’s Prison Maze), which was to become the biggest prison escape in Europe since World War II.
The screening, taking place on Saturday July 15th, will have the director and cast, including Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (‘Love/Hate’), Barry Ward (‘Jimmy’s Hall’), Martin McCann (‘The Survivalist’), Niamh McGrady (‘The Fall’), and Aaron Monaghan (‘Assassin’s Creed’), all in attendance. Tickets for the premiere are sold out.
Based on the true story of the 1983 mass break-out of 38 IRA prisoners from HMP Maze maximum-security prison in Northern Ireland. As Larry Marley (Vaughan-Lawlor), the chief architect of the escape, schemes his way towards pulling off this feat, he comes into contact with prison warder Gordon Close (Ward). Initially Larry and Gordon are confirmed enemies, born on opposite sides of Northern Ireland’s political divide, but when Larry realises that Gordon may be unwittingly useful for his escape plan, a slow seduction begins. Larry intends to use and manipulate Gordon in order to get closer to his goal. What follows is a tense and intriguing drama in which an unlikely relationship is forged between two enemies that will have far reaching consequences for both of them.
An Irish-Swedish co-production, MAZE was shot over a four week in the recently decommissioned Cork Prison, and around Cork City, before moving to Sweden’s Gothenburg Studios.
MAZE is released into Irish cinemas September 22, 2017.