David Puttnam: The Long Way Home
Date Posted: June 19, 2024
RTÉ One Thursday 20th June, 10.15pm
An intimate portrait of Oscar-winning film producer David Puttnam as he reflects on his life and the influences which shaped his journey to becoming an Irish citizen.
The documentary was developed with funding from Northern Ireland Screen and Future Screens Northern Ireland. The production was funded by Coimisiún na Meán and RTÉ.
An intimate portrait of Oscar-winning film producer David Puttnam as he reflects on events in his life which shaped his journey to becoming an Irish citizen and making Skibbereen, West Cork his home.
In the film, David explores the significance of growing up in the aftermath of the Blitz, the influence of his father, and the recurring theme of male friendship in his films. He also shares the impact of these life experiences on his present projects and how, now in his eighties, he and his wife Patsy have found their forever home.
In 1982 David won an Oscar for best film for Chariots of Fire – from here he carved out a distinctive role as an educationalist, environmentalist and political activist.
In this revealing profile, David Puttnam traces aspects of his life which lead him and his wife Patsy to becoming Irish citizens and making their home in West Cork. He explores his improbable journey from a North London School dropout to a successful film producer. He also reveals significant events which shaped his thinking – the impact of his early life in London and his immersion in an environment dominated by fear during the Blitz years, the role his parents played, how he fell in love with Patsy his wife for of over 60 years, the importance of his friendship with Alan Parker, and his stint in Hollywood as CEO of Columbia Pictures. Throughout the film he demonstrates how his life is reflected in his work and how each element of his journey supported the next, eventually leading him and Patsy to Ireland.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Aifric Ní Chianáin for RTÉ,
Paul Moore for Future Screens NI
PRODUCER: Clíona Ní Bhuachalla
DIRECTOR: Edel O’Mahony
LINE PRODUCER: EmmaJane Dunne
EDITOR: David Gray
DOP: Carl Best
“Future Screens NI was sponsoring the Puttnam Scholarships which gives young filmmakers the opportunity to experience the skill of David Puttnam. The Director of Future Screens, Professor Paul Moore asked me to act as a mentor and rapporteur for Future Screens and I was privileged to be able to develop a relationship with David Puttnam through this’ – Producer Clíona Ní Bhuachalla
