Maze (2017 film)

Maze
British release poster
Directed byStephen Burke
Screenplay byStephen Burke
Produced byBrendan J. Byrne
Jane Doolan
StarringTom Vaughan-Lawlor
CinematographyDavid Grennan
Edited byJohn O'Connor
Release date
  • 22 September 2017 (2017-09-22) (Ireland)
Running time
92 minutes
CountriesIreland
United Kingdom

Maze is a prison film about the Maze Prison escape of 38 Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoners in 1983. It was written and directed by Stephen Burke[1] and released on 22 September 2017.[2]

Cast

Reception

The Traditional Unionist Voice party said "After watching the trailer I am deeply concerned that the film is going to show a one-sided, very biased account of the Maze break-out. There is no account at all given in the trailer by the prison officers who served us during the Troubles."[3]

Alex Maskey of Sinn Féin said "At the end of the day a prison escape is of huge human interest worldwide so I have no doubt people will go and watch the film. I would recommend to people, go and watch it and make your judgement - I would hope it wouldn’t glorify anything which is inappropriate.”[3]

The Playlist included it as one of their choices of underrated films of 2017.[4]

The film opened without previews to over €141,000 after its official release on Friday 22 September and was screened in more than 60 cinemas all over the island of Ireland. It set the 2017 record for the biggest opening weekend for an Irish film.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Maze IRA movie is about 'dialogue' not 'glorification', says writer". The Irish Times. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  2. ^ Morris, Allison (16 August 2017). "First trailer released for Maze prison escape drama". The Irish News.
  3. ^ a b "Row over new film on IRA Maze prison escape". Wayback Machine. 19 August 2017. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017.
  4. ^ "The Most Underrated and Overrated Films of 2017". theplaylist.net.
  5. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (29 September 2017). "Maze sets the yearly record for the biggest opening weekend for a domestic film". Cineuropa. Retrieved 9 December 2018.