648:, Peter Bradshaw mentioned Gillen's performance as one of the best in a supporting role on film in 2023.Bradshaw said the film is “well-acted and tells the story with verve”, and complimented Byrne’s “austere and droll” Beckett. The Financial Times called Marsh “a graceful stylist” and praised the performances of Bonnaire and Peake, saying, “There is dramatic elegance to the mirrored excellence of the actresses”. The Irish Independent said that Byrne, “sinks into the role remarkably well” and called the film, “an honourable attempt at a Beckett biopic, well cast and not overplayed”.
1441:
563:
the global notoriety and fame that came from being subsequently awarded the Nobel prize, and yet how he remained a man “who lived the last part of his life alone in a very simple room in a nursing home”. Discussing his performance Byrne said “Physically I can sketch him, but with this film we are not looking for an impersonation of
Beckett, rather a sense of who he was. What you want is people to believe the man, not focus their attention on the wig or the makeup or the false nose.”
640:
called the film's formal premise "ingenious", adding there is "definitely a
Beckettian ring to the dialogue" and called Byrne's performance, "rueful but often tartly humorous evocation of Beckett as a vulnerable, tender figure, he convincingly humanises a writer often represented as an inaccessibly
651:
The Irish
Business Post’s review of the film called it “formally ingenious” and observed that “when Byrne – or Byrnes – takes centre stage, the film sings”. The Irish Examiner called Byrne and O’Shea “terrific” and said “Dance First is a literary biopic that deserves all the garlands that come its
562:
and described the project as an effort to flesh out a character whom “people know very little about. He was a man who had a sense of humour, who was deeply emotional, who was a failure in his own eyes for a great deal of his life”. Byrne described how the man's sense of self contrasts greatly with
1271:
31:
1630:
1134:
894:
1013:
572:
222:
1297:
1374:
815:
1152:
1625:
1615:
476:
in the U.K. and produced by 2LE Media's
Michael Livingstone and Tom Thostrup, alongside Viktória Petrányi of Hungary's Proton Cinema and Belgium's
622:, "a small masterpiece" and said of Byrne's performance, "such is the power of the storytelling that within minutes you believe in him entirely".
552:
948:
993:"Sky Debuts Trailer for James Marsh's 'Dance First,' Starring Gabriel Byrne, Ahead of World Premiere at San Sebastian Film Festival (Exclusive)"
1620:
1610:
539:
began in
Budapest in May 2022. Filming locations in Budapest included the corner of Gerlóczy utca and Vitkovics Mihály utca, the steps of the
1468:
1635:
1551:
1272:"Dance First review: Samuel Beckett biopic starring Gabriel Byrne shows the writer's genius as well as his messy private life and failings"
721:
685:
1219:
833:
855:
992:
930:
1640:
652:
way”. The Arts Desk praised
Forsyth’s “wonderful” dialogue and “the elegant chiaroscuro of Antonio Paladino’s cinematography”F
1193:
1375:"Cillian Murphy, Andrew Scott Among Irish Film & TV Awards Nominees; 'Lies We Tell' Leads Feature Categories – Full List"
876:
575:'s official selection on 30 September 2023. The film was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 3 November 2023, by
1645:
1110:
788:
1172:
516:
and that Marsh is “a great film-maker, so the
Beckett story is in good hands.” In September 2022, it was revealed that
1571:
1491:
661:
406:
349:
1541:
1461:
604:
1135:"Fionn O'Shea on being cast as Samuel Beckett: 'There was a moment of elation followed by crippling anxiety'"
472:
and a title taken from
Beckett's ethos on life of "Dance first, think later". The project was developed with
1323:
1478:
712:
607:, assigned the film a score of 46 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
461:
305:
44:
536:
1501:
1454:
1018:
690:
628:
called the film "striking" and praised O'Shea's "excellent" performance and
Gallagher's "fine turn".
1605:
1349:
860:
744:
1245:
912:
769:
540:
488:
The project isn't the first time
Forsyth has written about Beckett - his Sky Playhouse short film
1531:
1014:"UK-Ireland box office preview: 'How To Have Sex', 'Bottoms', 'The Royal Hotel' lead new openers"
997:
357:
1298:"John Maguire on film: Exploration of toxic masculinity in Australia backs itself into a corner"
966:
816:"Oscar Winner James Marsh to Direct Samuel Beckett Biopic 'Dance First,' Starring Gabriel Byrne"
789:"A lot of biopics depend on likeness – this is braver': Gabriel Byrne on playing Samuel Beckett"
1435:
592:
525:
501:
422:
402:
345:
297:
111:
103:
1089:
548:
1440:
1049:
624:
596:
493:
505:
378:
317:
98:
1401:
356:
and his later life until his death in 1989. Throughout the film, Beckett carries out an
344:, his relationship with his future wife Suzanne Dumesnil, his time as a fighter for the
1054:
580:
544:
521:
416:
373:
301:
198:
119:
1599:
1220:"Dance First review – Samuel Beckett's life given the high gloss Hollywood treatment"
465:
426:
369:
313:
93:
336:
The film documents the Irish writer's life, from his childhood, his friendship with
1177:
1119:
895:"First look: Gabriel Byrne as Samuel Beckett in James Marsh's biopic 'Dance First'"
793:
636:
611:
559:
517:
497:
469:
444:
397:
393:
384:
353:
321:
309:
129:
124:
54:
660:
In March 2024, Bronagh Gallagher was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the
30:
1511:
1446:
513:
438:
388:
341:
337:
325:
1075:
1040:
1521:
1153:"Gabriel Byrne: 'I can't understand how I went from Walkinstown to Hollywood'"
1084:
600:
576:
194:
599:, 41% of 34 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.1/10.
528:, Lisa Dwyer Hogg, Barry O'Connor and Gráinne Good had joined the cast.
1561:
1157:
630:
509:
1429:
473:
174:
1194:"And the 2023 Braddies go to … Peter Bradshaw's film picks of the year"
348:
during the Second World War, his postwar literary rise and subsequent
667:
Dance First won Best Single Drama at the 2024 Celtic Media Festival.
477:
166:
1246:"Dance First film review — chapters in the life of Samuel Beckett"
931:"GABRIEL BYRNE STARS IN THE FILM ABOUT BECKETT'S LIFE IN BUDAPEST"
856:"Gabriel Byrne and Aidan Gillen sign on for Samuel Beckett biopic"
1324:"Film review: Dance First is a Beckett biopic that's no deadener"
492:
was about the real-life friendship between Beckett and a teenage
1450:
913:"Aidan Gillen joins Gabriel Byrne's Beckett movie Dance First"
770:"Aidan Gillen joins Gabriel Byrne's Beckett movie Dance First"
340:
until the incarceration of the latter's mentally ill daughter
949:"Gabriel Byrne: 'I was never not conscious of being Irish'"
686:"UK-Ireland cinema release dates: latest updates for 2023"
1113:
A lot of biopics depend on likeness – this is braver
1631:
Biographical films about dramatists and playwrights
316:stars as Beckett, with a supporting cast featuring
281:
273:
253:
243:
204:
190:
154:
146:
138:
86:
60:
50:
40:
23:
877:"Aidan Gillen "For edginess, TV is where it's at""
508:as a younger Samuel Beckett. Gillen confirmed to
1350:"Dance First - the travails of Samuel Beckett"
634:called Byrne "one of Ireland's great actors".
573:71st San Sebastián International Film Festival
1462:
8:
558:On set in Budapest Byrne was interviewed by
1469:
1455:
1447:
1439:
1115:: Gabriel Byrne on playing Samuel Beckett"
29:
20:
787:Armistead, Claire (September 22, 2023).
460:In November 2021, it was announced that
991:Barraclough, Leo (September 21, 2023).
676:
468:playing Beckett from a screenplay from
381:as the eldest of three younger Becketts
1270:Whitington, Paul (December 22, 2023).
1400:Tartaglione, Nancy (March 14, 2024).
1218:Bradshaw, Peter (December 22, 2023).
1192:Bradshaw, Peter (December 22, 2023).
1173:"'Dance First': San Sebastian Review"
745:"Dance First – Financial Information"
496:. In May 2022, it was announced that
7:
722:British Board of Film Classification
352:in 1969, his affair with translator
1322:Burke, Declan (December 22, 2023).
1296:Maguire, John (December 22, 2023).
1348:Barnes, Hugh (December 22, 2023).
1244:Leigh, Danny (December 22, 2023).
14:
434:Barry O’Connor as William Beckett
1626:Biographical films about writers
1616:British biographical drama films
1012:Dalton, Ben (November 3, 2023).
464:was to direct the bio-pic with
411:LĂ©onie Lojkine as young Suzanne
838:, a film about Samuel Beckett"
431:Lisa Dwyer Hogg as May Beckett
1:
1621:Films directed by James Marsh
1611:2023 biographical drama films
967:"San Sebastian Film Festival"
662:IFTA Film & Drama Awards
1636:Films about Nobel laureates
500:joined the cast along with
213:30 September 2023
1662:
512:that his role was that of
407:Suzanne Dechevaux-Dumesnil
350:Nobel Prize for Literature
1485:
641:lofty secular prophet".
618:Claire Armitstead called
320:as a younger Beckett and
228:3 November 2023
28:
16:2023 film by James Marsh
1552:The Theory of Everything
300:about Irish playwright
1641:Films shot in Budapest
1406:Celtic Media Festival
1123:. September 22, 2023.
537:Principal photography
236: (United Kingdom)
1492:Wisconsin Death Trip
1019:Screen International
971:sansebastianfestival
725:. September 12, 2023
691:Screen International
579:in association with
571:The film closed the
443:Caroline Boulton as
1646:2020s Belgian films
1302:Irish Business Post
1161:. October 25, 2023.
1141:. October 29, 2023.
844:. November 8, 2021.
822:. November 4, 2021.
67:Michael Livingstone
1477:Films directed by
1379:Deadline Hollywood
1181:. October 1, 2023.
524:, Leonie Lojkine,
358:interior monologue
171:Film Constellation
1593:
1592:
1276:Irish Independent
593:review aggregator
526:Bronagh Gallagher
502:Sandrine Bonnaire
490:Waiting for Andre
423:Bronagh Gallagher
403:Sandrine Bonnaire
346:French Resistance
298:biographical film
289:
288:
112:Bronagh Gallagher
104:Sandrine Bonnaire
76:Viktória Petrányi
1653:
1586:
1576:
1566:
1556:
1546:
1536:
1526:
1522:Red Riding: 1980
1516:
1506:
1496:
1471:
1464:
1457:
1448:
1443:
1417:
1416:
1414:
1412:
1397:
1391:
1390:
1388:
1386:
1381:. March 14, 2024
1371:
1365:
1364:
1362:
1360:
1345:
1339:
1338:
1336:
1334:
1319:
1313:
1312:
1310:
1308:
1293:
1287:
1286:
1284:
1282:
1267:
1261:
1260:
1258:
1256:
1241:
1235:
1234:
1232:
1230:
1215:
1209:
1208:
1206:
1204:
1189:
1183:
1182:
1169:
1163:
1162:
1149:
1143:
1142:
1131:
1125:
1124:
1107:
1101:
1100:
1098:
1096:
1072:
1066:
1065:
1063:
1061:
1037:
1031:
1030:
1028:
1026:
1009:
1003:
1002:
988:
982:
981:
979:
977:
963:
957:
956:
945:
939:
938:
937:. June 19, 2022.
927:
921:
920:
909:
903:
902:
891:
885:
884:
875:Murphy, Lauren.
872:
866:
865:
852:
846:
845:
830:
824:
823:
812:
806:
805:
803:
801:
784:
778:
777:
766:
760:
759:
757:
755:
741:
735:
734:
732:
730:
709:
703:
702:
700:
698:
681:
617:
605:weighted average
553:New York Kávéház
437:Gráinne Good as
235:
233:
220:
218:
142:Antonio Paladino
73:Fabian Westerhof
33:
21:
1661:
1660:
1656:
1655:
1654:
1652:
1651:
1650:
1596:
1595:
1594:
1589:
1579:
1572:King of Thieves
1569:
1559:
1549:
1539:
1529:
1519:
1509:
1499:
1489:
1481:
1475:
1426:
1421:
1420:
1410:
1408:
1399:
1398:
1394:
1384:
1382:
1373:
1372:
1368:
1358:
1356:
1347:
1346:
1342:
1332:
1330:
1321:
1320:
1316:
1306:
1304:
1295:
1294:
1290:
1280:
1278:
1269:
1268:
1264:
1254:
1252:
1250:Financial Times
1243:
1242:
1238:
1228:
1226:
1217:
1216:
1212:
1202:
1200:
1191:
1190:
1186:
1171:
1170:
1166:
1151:
1150:
1146:
1133:
1132:
1128:
1109:
1108:
1104:
1094:
1092:
1074:
1073:
1069:
1059:
1057:
1050:Rotten Tomatoes
1039:
1038:
1034:
1024:
1022:
1011:
1010:
1006:
990:
989:
985:
975:
973:
965:
964:
960:
947:
946:
942:
929:
928:
924:
919:. May 19, 2022.
911:
910:
906:
893:
892:
888:
874:
873:
869:
854:
853:
849:
842:Byrneholics.com
832:
831:
827:
814:
813:
809:
799:
797:
786:
785:
781:
776:. May 19, 2022.
768:
767:
763:
753:
751:
743:
742:
738:
728:
726:
711:
710:
706:
696:
694:
683:
682:
678:
673:
658:
625:The Irish Times
615:
603:, which uses a
597:Rotten Tomatoes
589:
569:
547:, the lobby of
534:
494:Andre the Giant
486:
458:
453:
419:as Alfred Peron
366:
334:
308:and written by
269:
246:
239:
231:
229:
216:
214:
207:
197:
186:
185:
159:
157:
134:
82:
36:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1659:
1657:
1649:
1648:
1643:
1638:
1633:
1628:
1623:
1618:
1613:
1608:
1598:
1597:
1591:
1590:
1588:
1587:
1577:
1567:
1557:
1547:
1537:
1527:
1517:
1507:
1497:
1486:
1483:
1482:
1476:
1474:
1473:
1466:
1459:
1451:
1445:
1444:
1425:
1424:External links
1422:
1419:
1418:
1392:
1366:
1340:
1328:Irish Examiner
1314:
1288:
1262:
1236:
1210:
1184:
1164:
1144:
1139:irishtimes.com
1126:
1102:
1067:
1055:Fandango Media
1032:
1004:
983:
958:
940:
935:Szinhaz.online
922:
904:
886:
867:
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736:
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675:
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588:
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108:LĂ©onie Lojkine
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35:Release poster
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1402:"Dance First"
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1354:The Arts Desk
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914:
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868:
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862:
861:Irish Central
857:
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848:
843:
839:
837:
829:
826:
821:
817:
811:
808:
800:September 22,
796:
795:
790:
783:
780:
775:
771:
765:
762:
750:
746:
740:
737:
729:September 13,
724:
723:
718:
716:
708:
705:
693:
692:
687:
684:Dalton, Ben.
680:
677:
670:
668:
665:
663:
655:
653:
649:
647:
642:
639:
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633:
632:
627:
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621:
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549:Hotel Gellért
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519:
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511:
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495:
491:
483:
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475:
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467:
466:Gabriel Byrne
463:
455:
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442:
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436:
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427:Nora Barnacle
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206:Release dates
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182:Proton Cinema
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110:
107:
105:
102:
100:
97:
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94:Gabriel Byrne
92:
91:
89:
85:
79:Deborah Aston
78:
75:
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69:
66:
65:
63:
59:
56:
53:
49:
46:
43:
39:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1581:
1580:
1570:
1560:
1550:
1540:
1530:
1520:
1510:
1500:
1490:
1430:
1409:. Retrieved
1405:
1395:
1383:. Retrieved
1378:
1369:
1359:December 22,
1357:. Retrieved
1353:
1343:
1333:December 22,
1331:. Retrieved
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671:References
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577:Sky Cinema
541:VĂgszĂnház
451:Production
296:is a 2023
282:Box office
232:2023-11-03
223:Zinemaldia
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