Sean Hinds

Irishman Vincent Coke is facing execution on the electric chair after a lifetime of adventures, including smuggling rich Cubans from Cuba to the USA. While rebelling against the system, he finds an unexpected lifeline offered to him by the very system he is rebelling against.

Open Asylum is the debut feature by Colm Villa, a powerful drama set in Northern Ireland during the early 1980s. The story centres on Tom Bradley, a young metalworker whose life is upended by the intense political turmoil of the time. The film delves into both personal and societal struggles amidst the backdrop of conflict, with a particular focus on class and sub-class dynamics—an often-overlooked theme in narratives about the Troubles.

Gwen and Finbar leave a late-night party in search of a loaf of bread. On their journey through the dark and dangerous streets of Belfast, they meet an array of suspicious and neurotic characters who are either sad, amusing, or very dubious. In the end, as well as finding a pan loaf, Gwen and Finbar discover the sustenance of life.