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Movies & TV

14th May 2021

RTÉ’s new series celebrating The Commitments looks unmissable

Stephen Porzio

movies on tv today

This looks A1.

RTÉ have released a trailer and a clip for its new series Back to Barrytown which will celebrate Roddy Doyle’s Barrytown trilogy of books – The Commitments, The Snapper and The Van – and the iconic movies they inspired.

A three-part documentary series, the first episode will focus on The Commitments three decades after Alan Parker’s movie adaptation of Doyle’s book became a global phenomenon.

Hosted by Colm Meaney, who featured in the trilogy of films, the episode will explore the story behind Doyle’s self-published book and how Hollywood came to Dublin.

The synopsis for the episode reads: “Through interviews with cast, crew and Roddy himself, Colm takes us on a nostalgic journey around a film that still holds a key place in the hearts of Irish people 30 years after its release.”

Along with Doyle and Meaney, over the three episodes, the series will feature many of the well-known cast and crew from the film trilogy including Angeline Ball, Brendan O’Carroll, Glen Hansard, Robert Arkins, Ruth McCabe, Stephen Frears, Tina Kellegher and many more.

Back to Barrytown will begin Sunday, 16 May at 9.30pm on RTÉ One. To coincide with the series, the channel will also be airing The Commitments on Saturday, 22 May after the Eurovision final and The Snapper on Saturday, 29 May at 9.30pm.

Watch the trailer for the series, as well as a clip of Colm Meaney in conversation with Roddy Doyle, below.

Clips via RTÉ

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