Peaches

Scheduled release dates:
Ireland- April 6th, 2001
UK- October 12, 2001

Official Web Site
Real Player video interview with Matthew at Cork

Genre: Comedy

Tagline: Get Your Priorities Straight

Matthew plays a college drop out (Frank), who faces a Summer of discontent as the real world comes crashing down. With his two close friends, the boys pass the summer talking about girls, chasing girls, talking about chasing girls and, well, chasing girls. Kelly Reilly plays Cherry, the object of Frank’s affections. The relationship fails to get off the starting grid as Frank refuses to take on any adult responsibilities. Kelly Reilly is presently starring in Ben Elton's "Maybe Baby" and "Peaches" will be her second feature.

User Rating: awaiting 5 votes.

Cast
Matthew Rhys .... Frank
Justin Salinger .... Johnny
Matthew Dunster .... Pete
Kelly Reilly
Sophie Okonedo

Writer/Director: Nick Grosso
Producer: Ronan Glennane
Exec. Producer: Paul Ward, Nicholas O'Neill

Runtime: Ireland:84
Country: Ireland
Language: English
Web site address: www.itsallaboutpeaches.com
Supported by the Irish Film Board



Munster Express Online
April 13, 2001

In the London theatrical circles of 1994, Peaches was considered a play with a serious future written all over it. Launching the acting career of Ben Chaplin as well as confirming Nick Grosso as a playwright with definite potential, the idea of one day making it into a movie immediately grabbed Ronan Glennane, who was working in London at the time as a trade journalist for Screen International.

"It was really just a small play that presented upstairs at the Royal Court, but the reviews were quite ecstatic" Glennane recalled of the early encounter that led to his eventual five-year mission to make it into a film.

With one reviewer of the time describing it as having "the style of a latter day Oscar Wilde on speed", the germ of an idea began to form in Glennane's mind of the play's possible future beyond the stage. "The British press loved the production and I could see why - it was a universal story, told very simply, very effectively. I was very taken with what I saw as its potential as a feature film. I eventually approached the writer, Nick Grosso, about the idea of adapting his work for cinema."

Nick Grosso and I made a fairly unlikely duo in one sense because he was a playwright who had never written for the screen and I had never produced a film before" Glennane explained of the creative partnership that continued to nurture the film future of Peaches.

All in all, it took us a few years to get the script into the kind of shape that we wanted before we headed off to the 1999 Cannes Film Festival looking for a million pounds to shoot the film in London where the original play is set. At the time, it seemed that Soho was awash with funds for film production. We felt confident of attracting attention."

A story charting the bridge in life between the carefree teenage joys of chasing girls through to the adult imperatives of social responsibility and working for a living, it seemed in content exactly the kind of material to straddle both the important youth audience while still retaining a mature appeal. The "peaches" of the title being London slang for appealing female flesh.

While the budgetary constraints required various cinematic corners to be cut to suit the measure of the purse available, Ronan Glennane and his team were fortunate in finding the acting talents of a pair of newcomers, Matthew Rhys and Kelly Reilly.

Unknown at the time of filming Peaches, Welsh-born Rhys, who joined RADA on a scholarship, has since distinguished himself opposite Kathleen Turner in the West End production of The Graduate as well as appearing opposite Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange in Titus. He recently filmed The Abduction Club in Dublin.

Kelly Reilly is accomplished stage actress who's played in The London Cuckolds at The National and Three Sisters at The Whitehall. On screen, she had a supporting role in Ben Elton's Maybe Baby and Last Orders with Michael Caine and Michael Gambon. With Rhys, particularly, whose career arc has risen considerably since making Peaches, the production has one of its more potent weapons for the upcoming test at the box office. "One of the most challenging aspects of making Peaches was really down to the fact that we all knew there was so little money" said Rhys. "While normal budget films allow for multiple takes until the director is happy, Peaches required that everyone get their acts together on pretty much a first time basis. That definitely brought a certain amount of pressure to bear, but also promoted a wonderful spirit amongst everyone of the set. It fostered a sort of [can do] attitude that doesn't happen on bigger budget movies, the group dynamic extended to everybody - cast and crew." Inspiration for the lead role came relatively easy to the actor: "Being in my twenties myself, I suppose I didn't have to look too far for my motivation on this one".


The Irish Times
August 27, 1999
Michael Dwyer

'Oscar Wilde on speed' to direct in Dublin

A hot young cast of rising actors has been lined up for the feature film, Peaches, which, although set in London, will be shot almost entirely in Dublin. The low-budget film is based on Nick Grasso's hit West End play of the same name, and Grasso will also direct the film version. In its review of the stage production the International Herald Tribune said: "Grasso's style is that of a latter-day Oscar Wilde on speed."

Peaches will be the first film produced by Dublin-based Ronan Glennane through his company, Stone Ridge Entertainment. The film offers "a hilarious snapshot of contemporary urban youth starring the most exciting young cast assembled in Britain in recent years," says Glennane.

The cast is headed by Matthew Rhys, who features in the movies, House of America, Jimmy McGovern's Heart and Julie Taymor's eagerly awaited Shakespearean adaptation, Titus. Joining him in Peaches are Kelly Reilly, who is now starring in Ben Elton's Maybe Baby, Matthew Dunster, Justin Salinger, Eddie Marsan, Emily Hillier, Sophie Okenedo and Stephanie Bagshaw. Shooting of the exterior sequences will take place in London over six days from September 5th, and the production moves to Dublin from September 13th to Ocotober 2nd for all the interior scenes. The film will be lit by the Irish lighting cameraman, Brendan Galvin.


The Irish Times
October 26, 2000
Michael Dwyer

The young men at the centre of writer/director Nick Grosso's Peaches are still running scared of responsibility and commitment as they near the end of their 20s. Adapted by Grosso from his own successful stage play, Peaches, which had its world première at Cork on Saturday night, is set entirely in London but was filmed mostly in Dublin on the initiative of its Irish producer, Ronan Glennane.

Its principal character, Frank, engagingly played by Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, is unperturbed by failing his final year exams and looks forward to an indolent summer of pleasure in London, where his media business friend, Pete (Matthew Dunster) offers him free accommodation. Pete devises a board game using toy cars to mark their sexual progress over the summer.

In this wry view of lad culture, we observe the attempted seduction of Frank by a college friend (Kelly Reilly), both as it actually happens and as Frank embroiders it for his mates. These are young men who happily spend far more time talking among themselves about relationships, past and potential, than doing much about them. Grosso's perceptive screenplay displays a keen ear for apt dialogue, and is acted with conviction by a fresh young cast.


6degrees the Film Connection
Mandy D. Charles

In Nick Grosso's 'Peaches', adapted from his own stage play the eternal question, 'What the hell am I doing with my life?' is charmingly and wittily explored. Shot on a low budget, with a fairly unknown cast the snappy script and dynamic energy of the performances places the film in the 'This Life' stable. Eddie Marsan is absolutely excellent as Brian; he leaves a lasting impression, though only on screen for a couple of minutes.

Having dropped out of his university course Frank (Matthew Rhys) is on the fast track to nowhere. The world of work offers no appeal, and he prefers to spend his time hanging with his mates Johnny (Justin Sallinger), a zen art student with a horrendous taste in shirts, and wideboy media whore Pete (Matthew Dunster), shooting the breeze and chatting up girls (peaches). On being told by a uni friend Cherry (Kelly Reilly) that she has a crush on him, Frank seems unable to act on this, as with everything else in his life.

Meanwhile, his mate Johnny has committed the absolutely heinous crime of, deciding to look for a job. Realising that this will jeopardise their precious loafing time, Frank attempts to convince Johnny to abandon his plan. Johnny is having none of it, and Frank is forced into signing up for a job scheme.

The story holds resonance for everyone; Frank is at a crossroads emotionally and practically, making that transition into adulthood that we all have to face. Here lies the film's great strength, but also its weakness. Although we identify with the problems facing Frank, and his unwillingness to make a decision, we also want to give him a right kicking, and tell him to pull his finger out. His life seems to consist of drinking in the pub, and talking crap and although funny in small doses, it can become wearing after a while.

Filmed primarily in Dublin, though you wouldn't think it, 'Peaches' is a tribute to all involved for their tenacity in getting the film made, as financing was difficult to obtain. Although flawed, for a debut it bodes extremely well for the future.

*****************************************************************************
E-Mail I received from the producer

Subj: Re: Peaches reply
Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 5:49:01 AM
From: ronansre@*******
To: Lbjoyce65@aol.com


Dear Laura,

I read with great amusement your web site to Matthew. I'm shocked you've heard of him, but you are right he will be a major star of the future.

I cannot pass you on any images but we are setting up a Peaches web site in June called www.itsallaboutpeaches.com. So I'm sure that will keep you up to speed.

Best wishes,


Ronan Glennane.
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