So Long, Numero Uno Joe

Last week, the subject of "Numero Uno Joe", my 2003 documentary, passed away. Joe O'Sullivan , from Skibbereen, was an exceptional character who had bought a plot in the local graveyard and erected his headstone some years back - for fear that when he died no-one else would!

When I stumbled across his story I initially thought that I would produce a film about Joe, but as I got to know him better I became fiercly protective of him. I didn't trust that another director would not exploit Joe and portray him as a caricature. Being from Skibbereen myself, I knew that I would have a lot to answer for locally if I did not treat him right. Thus, I ended up directing, with Chris Hurley of Guerilla Films producing.

The moment that I knew I had got the story right was when I was nearing the end of editing. Over the course of a few days, several people passed through the edit suite in Cork Film Centre where I was working. I showed each person the rough cut I was working on. The reactions to Joe were as follows:

He is a genius.
He is such a lonely old man. (Person who said this was in floods of tears)
He is so witty.
He is a lunatic.
He is obviously an artist.
He is being very practical.

It was wonderful that different people had different interpretations of the same information. When I showed the final film to Joe, his reaction was "God, I'm very funny aren't I? Show it to us again".

I was so happy when "Numero uno Joe" was screened at the Cork Film Festival that year, though not overly surprised as it is such a local story. What completely amazed me was when the film went on to receive over 25 screenings both nationally and internationally. I travelled to a few festivals and brought back festival catalogues to Joe as souvenirs. I even got a certificate of participation from a festival in New Zealand which I gave to him. I would call to see him and bring a rhubarb tart with me. Over cake and tea, he would ask how the screenings went. How many people saw it at the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago, did the Estonians like him?



"Numero Uno Joe" is about memory. Joe was concerned about being forgotten, which was what prompted me to make the film in the first place. If nothing else, the film would be passed down through my family and through his, thereby keeping his memory alive.

There was a good turn out for Joe's funeral, he would have been pleased and he was laid to rest with the sound of bagpipes playing.

Rest In Peace Numero Uno Joe.

*For anyone who has seen the film, 1n 2004, Joe finally located his mother's grave in Clonakilty. He immediately erected a headstone at the site.

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