Director: 'Intermission' crosses genres

NEWTON, N.J., March 17 (UPI) -- Director John Crowley says he had a hard time getting funding for his movie "Intermission" because it did not fit neatly into a single film genre.

"You could kind of describe it as an Irish 'Short Cuts,'" Crowley told UPI in a recent interview. "But that doesn't quite get the humor or the energy of it right. Some Irish journalists have started christening it a punk 'Ulysses.'

"But I think it defies labels," he continued. "That's why it took us a long time to get funding because everyone would read the script and would think it was fantastically well-written and there was clear talent and a great

cast, but actually, how do you sell it? How do you pitch it? Just because it doesn't boil down to one neat, pitchable quote doesn't mean it isn't hugely entertaining."

Starring Colin Farrell, Cillian Murphy, Kelly Macdonald, Colm Meaney and Shirley Henderson, "Intermission" is about a man man (Murphy) who breaks up with his girlfriend (Macdonald) to test her love. His rejection and how she reacts to it set into motion a series of events affecting just about everyone in town.

"Intermission" opens Friday.