Irish Eye on Hollywood:
Viva la Paddy

In April, Irish director Paddy Breathnach teams up with an Irish screenwriter to explore the world of drag performers in Havana. This unlikely story was dubbed “one of the audience favorites at this year’s [Telluride Film] festival,” according the The Hollywood Reporter, which went on to describe this “Irish-Cuban movie” as a “genuine crowd-pleaser likely to find an appreciative American audience.” The film is entitled Viva and the script was written by Clare native Mark O’Halloran, best known for the Irish film Adam & Paul (directed by celebrated Room director Lenny Abrahamson). Viva revolves around a make-up artist who works with Havana’s drag performers but dreams of hitting the stage himself. He has more immediate problems, however, when he runs into his father – a former boxer – who hasn’t seen him in 15 years. Viva stars Hector Medina and Luis Alberto Garcia, and is slated to hit theaters April 29. ♦