The Last of the High Kings
| The Last of the High Kings | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | David Keating |
| Produced by |
Gabriel Byrne Paul Feldsher Keith Northrop Tim Palmer |
| Written by |
Ferdia MacAnna (novel) Screenplay: Gabriel Byrne David Keating |
| Starring |
Jared Leto Christina Ricci Catherine O'Hara Gabriel Byrne Colm Meaney Stephen Rea |
| Music by | Michael Convertino |
| Cinematography | Bernd Heinl |
| Edited by | Ray Lovejoy |
| Distributed by |
First Independent Films Miramax Films |
Release dates | 22 November 1996 |
| Language | English |
The Last of the High Kings, also released under the title Summer Fling in some countries, is a 1996 coming of age comedy-drama film set in Howth, Dublin, Ireland in the 1970s where the teenagers of the story are dealing with the birth of punk, the death of Elvis Presley and the various dramas of their teens. The lead role of Frankie Griffin is played by Jared Leto. Christina Ricci also stars as an American visiting for the summer. The film is based on the eponymous book by Ferdia Mac Anna.
Plot
It is 1977, Dublin rocks to the music of Thin Lizzy and the world is stunned by the death of Elvis Presley. Frankie (Leto), caught between acne and adulthood, has just completed his final exams in school. Convinced he will fail, he survives the summer organising a beach party, having lustful thoughts about two girls he believes are unobtainable and fending off the advances from a visiting American family friend, all whilst coping with his oddball family.
Cast
- Jared Leto as Frankie Griffin, a teen coping with his age and bizarre family
- Catherine O'Hara as Cathleen, Frankie's extroverted mother
- Gabriel Byrne as Jack, Frankie's father
- Christina Ricci as Erin, a visiting American family friend
- Colm Meaney as Jim Davern, a sleazy politician
- Stephen Rea as Cab Driver
- Emily Mortimer as Romy Thomas