BEYOND THE FIRE
Winner of BEST UK FEATURE at LIFF 2009
Winner of BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE at GSFF 2010
Official Selection Belfast film Festival 2009
IndieFlix film of the week on Watch This Space Film Magazine February 2016
Reviews for BBC2 Broadcast release 2013
Daily Mail Pick of the Day
Sabotage Times one of "Best 8 TV Movies of the Week"
mytvguidelistings.co.uk *****
Reviews for Cinema release 2009/10
The Sunday Mirror’s Must See Film
"Harrowing tale of lives devastated by religious sexual abuse and the bravery of two survivors who fall in love."
Steve O Brien Filmstar Magazine ****
“Startling originality….Murphy has a sensitive directorial touch…refreshing to see an unhistrionic look at sexual abuse in the priesthood.”
Pete Bradshaw The Guardian ***
“Heartfelt, its unironic belief in the power of love is attractive.”
Robert Elms BBC Radio London
“Very romantic, authentic and intense, tender and touching, a great feel for people and a great feel for places…fantastically told.”
Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard
“A bright spark at the ICA.…Williams and Seymour play well together.”
Belfast Telegraph ****
“Unsettling but brilliant drama”
Ekow Eshun ICA - New British Cinema Season
"Moving and heartfelt"
David Parkinson Empire
Empire Online Seasons-ICA New British Cinema
"Finally, Maeve Murphy's Beyond the Fire confirms the good impression she made with Silent Grace, as it follows former curate Scot Williams from his prison cell to find Irish priest Hugh Sachs in his London parish. However, Williams is still trapped by childhood memories of the abuse he suffered at the hands of his mentor and still can't decide whether he was in love or just plain scared. Williams is offered sanctuary by musician Chris O'Neill, who introduces him to flatmate Cara Seymour, who is recovering from her own trauma. But, as the pair become closer, Seymour's willingness to discuss the rape that ruined her life contrasts with Williams's growing reticence and his refusal to explore his emotions leads to an inevitable act of violence.
Although it indulges in a good deal of Catholic bashing, the scenario is never allowed to lapse into soap opera, while the performances of Williams and Seymour seep raw emotion."
Irish Independent Newspaper
"Victims fury as RTE claim 'no appetite' for the movie"
Link here.
TV3 Website
"Shocking and controversial"
Little White Lies
“Moving Award Winner”
Murrough O Brien Fortnight Magazine
“Beautiful, profound, thought provoking …the tenderness between the two leads is palpable”
Article Page 1 here.
Article Page 2 here.
Edward Porter The Sunday Times
“In this small British feature, writer/director Maeve Murphy displays a sure feel for the look and atmosphere of a scene…tempestuous”
Indie London
“Cara Seymour is the stand out star of the film…to say Beyond The Fire is provocative is an understatement.”
Hot Press
“Beyond the Fire shares some of Onces charming freewheeling DNA” Tara Brady
Screen jabber.
“Scot Williams is the pick of a small cast….thought provoking take on a difficult subject”
Irish News
“With Irish Society coming to terms with the Ryan Report, the release of Maeve Murphys award winning Beyond The Fire is timely”
William Crawley Presenter Sunday Sequence BBC Radio Ulster
“A unique film dealing with profoundly troubling issues”
Time Out - Pick of the Week - Festivals and Seasons
Winner of BEST UK FEATURE at LIFF 2009
Winner of BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE at GSFF 2010
Official Selection Belfast film Festival 2009
IndieFlix film of the week on Watch This Space Film Magazine February 2016
Reviews for BBC2 Broadcast release 2013
Daily Mail Pick of the Day
Sabotage Times one of "Best 8 TV Movies of the Week"
mytvguidelistings.co.uk *****
Reviews for Cinema release 2009/10
The Sunday Mirror’s Must See Film
"Harrowing tale of lives devastated by religious sexual abuse and the bravery of two survivors who fall in love."
Steve O Brien Filmstar Magazine ****
“Startling originality….Murphy has a sensitive directorial touch…refreshing to see an unhistrionic look at sexual abuse in the priesthood.”
Pete Bradshaw The Guardian ***
“Heartfelt, its unironic belief in the power of love is attractive.”
Robert Elms BBC Radio London
“Very romantic, authentic and intense, tender and touching, a great feel for people and a great feel for places…fantastically told.”
Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard
“A bright spark at the ICA.…Williams and Seymour play well together.”
Belfast Telegraph ****
“Unsettling but brilliant drama”
Ekow Eshun ICA - New British Cinema Season
"Moving and heartfelt"
David Parkinson Empire
Empire Online Seasons-ICA New British Cinema
"Finally, Maeve Murphy's Beyond the Fire confirms the good impression she made with Silent Grace, as it follows former curate Scot Williams from his prison cell to find Irish priest Hugh Sachs in his London parish. However, Williams is still trapped by childhood memories of the abuse he suffered at the hands of his mentor and still can't decide whether he was in love or just plain scared. Williams is offered sanctuary by musician Chris O'Neill, who introduces him to flatmate Cara Seymour, who is recovering from her own trauma. But, as the pair become closer, Seymour's willingness to discuss the rape that ruined her life contrasts with Williams's growing reticence and his refusal to explore his emotions leads to an inevitable act of violence.
Although it indulges in a good deal of Catholic bashing, the scenario is never allowed to lapse into soap opera, while the performances of Williams and Seymour seep raw emotion."
Irish Independent Newspaper
"Victims fury as RTE claim 'no appetite' for the movie"
Link here.
TV3 Website
"Shocking and controversial"
Little White Lies
“Moving Award Winner”
Murrough O Brien Fortnight Magazine
“Beautiful, profound, thought provoking …the tenderness between the two leads is palpable”
Article Page 1 here.
Article Page 2 here.
Edward Porter The Sunday Times
“In this small British feature, writer/director Maeve Murphy displays a sure feel for the look and atmosphere of a scene…tempestuous”
Indie London
“Cara Seymour is the stand out star of the film…to say Beyond The Fire is provocative is an understatement.”
Hot Press
“Beyond the Fire shares some of Onces charming freewheeling DNA” Tara Brady
Screen jabber.
“Scot Williams is the pick of a small cast….thought provoking take on a difficult subject”
Irish News
“With Irish Society coming to terms with the Ryan Report, the release of Maeve Murphys award winning Beyond The Fire is timely”
William Crawley Presenter Sunday Sequence BBC Radio Ulster
“A unique film dealing with profoundly troubling issues”
Time Out - Pick of the Week - Festivals and Seasons