Lenny Abrahamson
Director
Dublin-born film director Lenny Abrahamson’s early films include Adam & Paul, Garage and What Richard Did.
Oscar-nominated for his film adaptation of the novel Room, his most recent feature is The Little Stranger, released in 2018.
Lenny also directed Normal People, the TV series adapted from Sally Rooney’s novel. The show was been a massive hit and really captured people’s imaginations.
Full Episode
In our conversation, film director Lenny Abrahamson gives us an insight into what he most enjoys about filmmaking, how he gets the best out of his actors and why the arts and education are so important.
We hope you enjoy!
Some teacher reflection questions
Q. Many of Lenny Abrahamson’s films and TV series are adapted from novels. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of making a film that has been adapted from a novel? If you were a filmmaker, is there a novel that you would like to adapt into a film?
Q. Lenny says that he is drawn to complex characters in his films, those who are outsiders or who do not know themselves well. When you are watching a film or a TV series, seeing a play or reading a novel, are there particular types of character that appeal to you? Do you have any favourite characters?
Q. As a director, Lenny works closely with his actors during rehearsals, getting to know them and listening to their ideas, even tailoring the script to suit actors better. He believes that the best ‘take’ is the one that feels ‘alive.’ With this in mind, which Junior Cycle Key Skills are particularly important for a director, do you think?
Q. Lenny’s advice to teachers wanting to introduce film in the classroom includes encouraging students to watch and talk about films first and enjoy the experience. Do you agree? Which films would you like to introduce to your Junior Cycle students? (You may be interested in the current list of Film Texts in Junior Cycle English).
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