Sir, - Neil Jordan laments to Hugh Linehan (Thursday Interview) the lack of new Irish filmmakers emerging to his notice. He might reflect on why despite his talent, experience and contacts, he has not succeeded in assisting an emerging talent in the single-minded and successful way that John Boorman assisted him. His generalised dismissal of the next generation - and his mean-spirited short-list of his own generation - appears vague and self-serving. How many of these first films, of which there have been upwards of five annually in recent years, has he taken time to see?
Does Hugh Linehan's failure to challenge his generalisation suggest that he nodded through the conjecture or felt ill-equipped to seek elucidation because he hadn't taken the opportunities provided to him to see all of these films? The next generation requires courage and conviction from its film journalists too.
The National finance for film that we have now is welcome and vital, but as Mr Jordan knows, most of our films are financed and distributed in a competitive international environment and for the most part without the mentoring that assisted him in his start. And the films are getting seen, to a greater and lesser extent, by the public here and abroad.
As many film-making careers testify, youth and even big audiences are no great measure of their enduring success. Neil Jordan's big break with the Irish audience didn't come until his fifth and sixth feature. And Jim Sheridan was no spring chicken when he moved from an accomplished theatre career to grace us with the beautiful My Left Foot. As with the development of an individual, the young Irish industry needs time and above all measured and informed comment from journalists, critics and eminent film-makers too.
So, in case Neil and Hugh missed my own first feature on its national cinema release last year they can catch The Last Bus Home on the new Merlin Video Label from March 27th. Excuse the exercise in self-promotion, but we must learn from our elders.
Now, having enjoyed Mona Lisa on the box the other night, I'm looking forward to The End of the Affair. - Yours, etc., Johnny Gogan,
Breacaire Beag, Cluainin, Co Liadhroim.