Town Hall (2005)

Directed by: Christine Molloy, Joe Lawlor | 10 minutes | drama, short film

The short film ‘Town Hall’ from the short film collection ‘Civic Life’ by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor uses the same style elements and the same general subject as their other work, but is less interesting in both form and content than is usually the case .

A couple planning to get married is shown around the town hall in a single shot, encountering many people and many activities taking place here. A group of citizens who receive a presentation about a pension scheme, a protest action by young people, a children’s party, a musical performance in an auditorium where children who are socially struggling ask for support from the community… it is broad and involved.

It’s just a little too garishly involved, with booing and applause at the “right” moments and a theatrical, explicit presentation of the pressing issues that clearly preoccupy the filmmakers. It’s all well-intentioned but not really subtle.

The shape here is not very special. Of course the whole setup to film ‘Town Hall’ from one shot is praiseworthy and it has been skilfully executed, but the sets and camera movements show little added value or virtuosity. It’s all quite practical, and coupled with the moderate interest the content arouses, ‘Town Hall’ has to rank as a lesser film in the oeuvres of Molloy and Lawlor.