This Cultural Life

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In-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives.

In-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives across theatre, visual arts, music, dance, film and more. Hosted by John Wilson.

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This Cultural Life: Neil Jordan

06/06/2024

Neil Jordan

BBC Radio 4 - This Cultural Life, Neil Jordan

Oscar-winning film-maker and novelist Neil Jordan on his creative influences.

Oscar-winning film-maker and novelist Neil Jordan talks to John Wilson about his creative influences.

Oscar-winning director, screenwriter and novelist Neil Jordan made his name with the 1984 movie The Company Of Wolves, adapted from an Angela Carter short story. His 1986 film Mona Lisa earned BAFTA and Golden Globe awards for its star Bob Hoskins. Jordan scored an even bigger critical and commercial hit worldwide with The Crying Game, which had six Academy Award nominations including best screenplay which was won by Neil Jordan himself.  His 20 feature films made over 40 years also include an adaptation of Ann Rice’s novel Interview With the Vampire, Irish revolutionary drama Michael Collins and The End Of The Affair, adapted from the Graham Greene novel. 

Neil Jordan talks to John Wilson about his upbringing in a Dublin suburb, the son of a school teacher father who encouraged an early love of storytelling. After working as a labourer, and in a Dublin theatre for a while, he met filmmaker John Boorman (Point Blank, Deliverance, The Emerald Forest) who, in 1980, was shooting his Arthurian legend film Excalibur at film studios in Ireland. Boorman invited Neil Jordan to direct a documentary about the making of Excalibur, an experience which started his filmmaking career. Jordan also chooses the 1943 Jean Genet novel Notre Dame des Fleurs - Our Lady Of The Flowers - as a formative influence on his screenwriting. He recalls the struggles to make The Crying Game and how the film’s producer Harvey Weinstein objected to the inclusion of a trans character, a supporting role for which Jaye Davidson was nominated as best actor at the 1992 Academy Awards.

Producer: Edwina Pitman


Archive used:
Clip from A Fistful of Dollars,	Sergio Leone, 1964
Clip from Excalibur, John Boorman, 1981
Clip from The Crying Game, Neil Jordan, 1992
Neil Jordan accepts his Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, 1992
Clip from The Crying Game, Neil Jordan, 1992
Clip from Michael Collins, Neil Jordan, 1996

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