Written and directed by Nick Kelly, whose short film Shoe was shortlisted for an Academy Award, The Drummer and the Keeper has already sold out its debut at the Galway Film Fleadh. The festival has already helped to launch Irish films like the 2007 musical Once into international success and promoters are hoping that The Drummer and the Keeper will be another major hit.
The Drummer and the Keeper tells the story of the unlikely friendship formed between two young men; Gabriel, a reckless young drummer who gleefully rejects society’s rules and Christopher, a 17 year old with Asperger’s Syndrome, who only wants to fit in.
Speaking on the themes of the film, Kelly commented that: “Our film tells the story of an unlikely relationship between two very different characters, each with their own very specific issues and challenges. I do believe that for many people, the difference between success and failure in life comes down to a single relationship with one other human being - very often a relationship that you would never have sought, nor wished for, nor even dreamed of in advance.”
The movie features a selection of Irish and international actors such as Dermot Murphy (Clean Break, Raw), Charlie Kelly (The Secret Scripture, Jadotville), Peter Coonan (What Richard Did, Love/Hate), Aoibhinn McGinnity (Moone Boy, Quirke, Love/Hate), Annie Ryan (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Laws Of Attraction), Niamh Algar (Without Name) and features the feature-length debut of the actor Jacob McCarthy.