NEIL JORDAN is an Oscar-winning filmmaker whose name is a byword for brilliance in the world of cinema.
Born in 1950 in Rosses Point, Co. Sligo and raised in Clontarf, Dublin, Jordan has etched his name in the annals of film history as a director, screenwriter, and producer.
He is also a critically acclaimed novelist, something that is sometimes forgotten because his stellar cinematic career is where the limelight usually focuses on.
Jordan’s unique ability to blend the realms of fantasy, history, reality and sensuality, on both film and in books, has earned him acclaim and recognition worldwide.
Neil Jordan has been announced as an Irish Post Award-winner for 2023The Sligo man’s artistic journey began with a degree in literature from University College Dublin (UCD), where he honed his storytelling skills and developed a deep appreciation for the narrative arts.
His fascination for “monsters and monstrous people” stems from his time as a young altar boy when he was enthralled by horrific ghost stories.
At 16 he decided to be a writer and started composing short stories, which eventually led him to UCD.
This background in literature served as a foundation for his future in broadcasting.
RTÉ was his first stepping-stone in the realm of moving pictures. His stint at the television channel included writing storylines Wanderly Wagon.
In case you missed out on this children’s series, it featured children and puppets travelling round Ireland generally doing good.
It was all plain sailing, not a steady progression into the world of the silver screen.
In 1971, unable to find work in an Ireland — back then a country whose economy seemed in terminal decline — Jordan and his wife Vivienne took the journey many of us have taken, the boat to London.
Neil Jordan, pictured with German actress Diane Kruger and Irish actor Liam Neeson during a photocall for the film Marlowe during the 70th San Sebastian International Film Festival in September 2022Neil worked as a labourer on building sites and wrote in his spare time. But Ireland soon called him home, and he landed back in Dublin in 1973.
A varied career then followed — night watchman, teacher, house-husband, band member. He played saxophone and banjo, gigging round Ireland with Niall Stokes, the founder of Hot Press.
But the young man’s writing however began to get recognised, and before long he was awarded The Guardian Fiction Prize for a 1976 book of short stories, Night in Tunisia.
By the 1980s Jordan had graduated to filmmaking — he met up with John Boorman when he, Boorman, was making the film Excalibur in Ireland.
This mediaeval fantasy was filmed on-location in Co. Wicklow, Co. Tipperary, and Co. Kerry, with the interiors shot at Ardmore Studios in Bray, Co. Wicklow.
The association led to Boorman working on Jordan’s first feature film Angel (1982), becoming the movie’s executive producer. It was the first all-Irish feature film for many years.
Jordan followed this up with his cinematic realization of the Little Red Riding Hood fable in The Company of Wolves.
These were the first steps on a path that would lead to Jordan becoming one of Europe’s most prominent cinematic voices.
The film was notable for its exploration of complex characters, and it set the tone for Jordan's future work.
The film is a story about a musician, played by Stephen Rea, caught up in the Troubles.
The film was Neil Jordan's directorial debut, and the executive producer was John Boorman.
Jordan directed The Company of WolvesOne of the remarkable aspects of Neil Jordan's filmmaking is his ability to seamlessly weave together various themes, creating multi-layered narratives.
His films often delve into themes of identity, sexuality, violence, and the supernatural, allowing for a deep exploration of human nature and behaviour.
Unconventional personal relationships are a recurring theme in Jordan's work, and he often finds a sympathetic side to characters that audiences would traditionally consider, perhaps, somewhat unconventional.
His film The Miracle, for instance, followed two characters who struggled to resist a strong, incestuous attraction.
One of Jordan's recurring themes is the exploration of gender and sexual identity.
This theme is prevalent in The Crying Game (1992), a film that explores love, deceit, and the complexities of human relationships. The film’s famous twist at the end — which we won’t give away here — was a long way from Wanderly Wagon.
A hallmark of Jordan's style is his focus on the supernatural.
Films like Interview with the Vampire (1994) and Byzantium (2012) delve into the world of vampires, presenting these supernatural creatures as complex beings with their own desires, struggles, and moral dilemmas.
In addition to the unusual sexuality of Jordan's films, he frequently returns to the Troubles of Northern Ireland.
Violence is another theme that Jordan often addresses in his films.
Mona Lisa (1986) and The Butcher Boy (1997) are examples of his exploration of violence and its effects on individuals and society.
These films present gritty and unflinching portrayals of the human capacity for cruelty and the potential for redemption, and have gained huge critical acclaim for Jordan.
In a far-reaching lecture at UCD’s Joyce Summer School, he argued that after the incomparable formal achievements of Joyce in literature, it was perhaps inevitable that later generations of Irish writers would also seek to conquer in the rather different art form of film as well as in novel writing.
But then Jordan has said that he sees filmmaking as but another form of writing, one that can startle audiences with new perspectives, and which can delve into fantasy to help promote the search for balm for the soul.
A brief resumé of Neil Jordan’s filmography
The Company of Wolves (1984): This visually stunning and thematically rich film reimagines a classic fairy tale through a very dark lens. The gothic fantasy horror film stars Angela Lansbury and David Warner.
Mona Lisa (1986): Starring Bob Hoskins, this crime drama explores the underbelly of London and the complexities of the human soul.
The Crying Game (1992): A thriller with a twist that shocked and fascinated audiences, challenging conventional notions of love and attraction.
Interview with the Vampire (1994): Based on Anne Rice's novel, this film explores the existential struggles of vampires and their quest for meaning in an immortal existence.
The Butcher Boy (1997): A darkly comedic and disturbing coming-of-age story that delves into the mind of a troubled young boy.
The End of the Affair (1999): A poignant exploration of love, jealousy, and faith set in post-World War II England.
Michael Collins (1996): A historical biopic that tells the story of the Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins, played by Liam Neeson.
Breakfast on Pluto (2005): A whimsical and poignant tale of a transgender woman's journey of self-discovery in 1970s Ireland.
Ondine (2009): A modern-day fairy tale that blurs the lines between reality and myth, set against the backdrop of a small Irish fishing village.
Byzantium (2012): Another venture into the world of vampires, this film explores the eternal themes of life, death, and immortality.
Greta (2018): A psychological thriller film starring Isabelle Huppert, Chloë Grace Moretz, Maika Monroe, Colm Feore and Stephen Rea. The film follows a young woman as she befriends a lonely widow — who then becomes disturbingly obsessed with her.
Marlowe (2022): Marlowe unites Neil Jordan with Liam Neeson once again. This neo-noir crime thriller mystery film is on the 2014 novel The Black-Eyed Blonde by John Banville, writing under the pen name Benjamin Black. Neeson plays the part of private detective Philip Marlowe, created by Raymond Chandler.
Awards and recognition
Neil Jordan has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career. His films have been celebrated at prestigious film festivals, and he has garnered critical acclaim for his work.
The Crying Game earned Jordan an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and a nomination for Best Director. The film's success marked a turning point in his career, bringing him international recognition.
In addition to his Academy Award win, Jordan has received several awards at the Cannes Film Festival, including the Best Director award for The Company of Wolves. He has also received accolades from the Venice Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival.
Neil Jordan has been announced as an Irish Post Award-winner for 2023. The Irish Post Awards take place on Thursday, November 9 at The Great Room, Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London
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