Blind Flight Revisited: 20 Year Anniversary with Brian Keenan, John McCarthy + Director John Furse

On 11 April 1986, Brian Keenan was kidnapped by Islamic Jihad in Beirut. After spending two months in isolation, he was moved to a cell shared with the British journalist John McCarthy. They were kept blindfolded throughout most of their ordeal and chained hand and foot when taken out of solitary.
Brian was released from captivity to Syrian military forces on 24th August 1990.
John was released on 8th August 1991.
In 2003 John Furse directed the film ‘Blind Flight’ starring Ian Hart and Linus Roache. The film received widespread critical acclaim, being nominated nine times, and Ian Hart got Best Actor Award at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
Brian Keenan, John McCarthy and John Furse were reunited for a special screening of ‘Blind Flight’ on the 20th October 2023 at the Irish Cultural Centre London.
After the film there was a memorable Q&A that covered Brian and John’s harrowing memories of Beirut. When a member of the audience asked Brian for his thoughts on present day Gaza, he gives an answer that is wisdom personified.
John Furse writes:
In October 2023 I was fortunate to be given a screening of ‘Blind Flight’ at the Irish Cultural Centre which Brian Keenan and John McCarthy attended. It was the first time that they had seen and spoken about the film together. and very many years since they had seen it.
The Q & A afterwards with Brian, John and myself was electric.
This year is the 20th anniversary of ‘Blind Flight’s’ release and would seem a very good time for its public resurrection.
www.johnfurse.co.uk/

[@iccprogrammer4236]

Brilliant Powerful heart-renching film - so poignant in these troubled and turbulent times!!!! WATCH!

[@HIBERNIAN04]

An amazing event at The Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith where we met John McCarthy and Brian Keenan . Great job by Sé Merry Doyle (Loopline) to produce this recording