GET YOUR WHITE Russians ready, because a festival dedicated to the Big Lebowski is coming to Ireland.
Lebowski Feis is the brainchild of uber-fan Ruairí O’Hagan, and will see Cork’s cinema-in-a-pub at The Beggarman on Gilabbey St being turned into a festival hub for one day.
O’Hagan read about The Beggarman’s 35-seater cinema on our own DailyEdge.ie, and said it immediately struck him that it would be perfect for a festival dedicated to the Coen Brothers’ famed cult movie.
“I’ve been a massive fan of the movie since I was in college – I watch it once a month to be perfectly honest,” said O’Hagan. “I’d always look enviously at the Lebowski festival in the United States and would think, ‘I’d love to go to that’.”
He put the idea on the back burner until he read about the cinema. “A light bulb went off in my head and I thought – why don’t I do the festival there?” He got on to the owner, Scott Duggan, who was “very receptive” to his idea.
What’s happening at Feis Lebowski
So, what can Lebowski buffs and new fans expect from the event? “To be honest, I wanted it to be a bit of craic,” said O’Hagan (we’re thinking that means no one will be dunked head-first into a toilet at any stage).
There will be two screenings of the film on the night, at 8.30pm and 10.30pm, as well as a Nintendo Wii bowling championship, a DJ playing music from the movie, and a fancy dress competition.
“No Irish party would be complete without the obligatory raffle,” added O’Hagan, who promised prizes including items that really tie the room together. We’re hoping for a nice rug – or even a bowling ball polisher.
And yes, The Beggarman is of course going to be serving The Dude’s favourite drink, White Russians.
The fest has another side to it too – one that Jeffrey Lebowski would no doubt approve of. It’s raising money for three-year-old Cork girl Alicia Savage, who has an extremely rare cancer. She is currently being treated in Boston, and all the money raised by Feis Lebowski will go directly to the Alicia Savage Fund.
O’Hagan has met Alicia and her family once. “Seeing Alicia, her story stuck with me and I wanted to do something for her ever since,” he said.
Why Lebowski?
So, why hold a festival dedicated to the Big Lebowski?
“To me, it’s one of the funniest films I have ever seen,” said O’Hagan.
You laugh at something you’ve missed every time you watch it, even if you’ve seen it dozens of time before. And you never get tired of John Goodman – he steals the show – or The Dude himself. It’s the performances, the music, the comedy, the very clever writing from the Coen Bros.
For more details on the event, which takes place on 26 July, visit its website, or keep up with it on Twitter. Tickets cost €10.
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