John Healy

Ahead of the release of Paul Duane’s documentary, BARBARIC GENIUS, about author and chess master John Healy, John was interviewed by Matthew Sweet for Radio 3’s Night Waves. In the interview (available on iPlayer) Matthew described John’s award-winning memoir THE GRASS ARENA as “One of the great works of the 20th century”. Following a successful run at the Odeon Panton Street in May BARBARIC GENIUS was screened at the Darwin Lecture Theatre, UCL on 22nd June as part of the Open City Docs Festival, where it was very well received.
**** “Paul Duane has created an enthralling documentary…Healy is a lonely, haunted, brilliant man… a gripping study”, Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“John Healy has a story worth telling… an absorbing film” Philip French, The Observer 
**** “This documentary about author John Healy is a must-see if you like dark revisionist tales…” London Evening Standard 
“Fascinating documentary… his story deserves this sensitive telling” Guardian Guide
“Sage… sad… stirring in the audience both warm and tormented feelings” Antonia Quirke, Financial Times
**** “A fascinating and emotionally engaging documentary that’s by turns heart-breaking, sobering and inspirational” Matthew Turner, Viewlondon  
“A fascinating if stubbornly enigmatic subject for a documentary… absorbing” Tim Robey, the Telegraph 
**** “This humane and haunting film… is all the more interesting for the frayed edges it leaves on display” Little White Lies
“The fascinating tale of a modern hellraiser, ‘Barbaric Genius’ proves that the spirit of Hemingway is still alive and kicking”  Time Out
***** “You will never look at someone clutching a bottle of booze on our streets the same way again after watching this film”  Camden New Journal
“The best Irish documentary of 2012” Broadsheet.ie
 

Posted on May 24, 2012