Celyn Jones Discusses His Directorial Debut with ‘The Almond and The Seahorse‘ in Theaters and on VOD, Friday, December 16, 2022.
Adapted from the stage play by Kaite O’Reilly and starred Celyn Jones during its original run, ‘The Almond and The Seahorse‘ deals with the subject matter of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
‘The Almond and The Seahorse‘ – Theatrical Poster
Jones co-wrote the screen play with O’Reilly and not only reprises his role as Joe, but makes his directorial debut, as the cast is rounded out with Rebel Wilson who plays Jones’ archeologist wife, Sarah, as well Charlotte Gainsbourg portraying Toni, an architect, who very much adores her partner, Gwen (Trine Dyrholm), who is imprisoned in a fifteen-year loop.
Myself, having suffered a few concussions due to combat sports found this film quite refreshing in that the characters were all multi-layered instead of one dimensional entities and that often times, the ones who love the person who suffers from TBI, is also suffering in their own way.
For those unfamiliar with Jones’ work, he is a critically acclaimed actor and BAFTA nominated screenwriter from Wales. The Times referred to him as ‘the powerhouse writer-performer behind the greatest Dylan Thomas biopic yet’. He started his producing career with a series of award-winning short films. Jones is the Co-founder of Mad As Birds Films and has produced on every one of their feature films including the Diane Keaton comedy POMS which he developed from a one-line pitch.
I, myself was unfamiliar with Jones until seeing ‘The Almond and The Seahorse‘ and I am pleased to have made his acquaintance in conducting this interview.
Jones and O’Reilly were able to find humor within tragedy without turning it into a comedy or a depressing French film that makes you suicidal before reaching the end credits.
What the actor and now director was able to do was bring to light TBI for a general audience and for those who are currently dealing with it or have loved ones that are enduring.
Follow Celyn Jones on Twitter @cylenjones.
‘The Almond and The Seahorse‘ is in Theaters and on VOD, Friday, December 16, 2022.
