Jump

Set on a New Year's Eve in Derry, Northern Ireland, Jump finds the lives of five twentysomething men and women affected by the disappearance of a young man who angered a local mobster (Lalor Roddy). The latter's daughter, Greta (Nichola Burley)--haunted by her mother's death and distressed by her father's misdeeds--is interrupted during a suicide attempt by Pearse (Martin McCann), a brother of the missing man. Bloodied from a beating by the mobster's henchmen (for being too inquisitive about his sibling), Pearse is bent on revenge, but falls for Greta. Meanwhile, Greta's friends, Marie (Charlene McKenna) and Dara (Valene Kane), unaware of the suicide plan, celebrate the start of a new year. And then there's the murder of Pearse's cousin, a crime involving small-time crook Johnny (Richard Dormer), who has been reluctantly dragged into efforts to silence Pearse. The fateful intersections of these characters--most of whom are strangers to one another--are smartly played out in this film by Kieron J. Walsh. Yes, coincidences abound, but there's a welcome aura of absurdity to the rainbow of tones (grim, silly, romantic) found in this chamber piece featuring an appealing cast. Recommended. (T. Keogh)