North Circular documentary to feature Gemma Dunleavy, John Francis Flynn and more

North Circular is a new documentary dubbed a "magical journey" featuring musical performances from local artists including Gemma Dunleavy, John Francis Flynn, Séan Ó Túama, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Ian Lynch. The award-winning film, written and directed by Luke McManus, edited by John Murphy and produced by McManus and Elaine Gallagher, will hit cinemas on December 2.

The black and white film travels along the titular North Circular Road in Dublin, telling stories and exploring the history and music of the legendary road and the places it connects. It scopes from Phoenix Park to Dublin Port, "meeting characters and hearing their personal stories, often told in music and song," explained director McManus.

"The film celebrates the vibrant cultural heritage of the various neighbourhoods the road connects, along with addressing the challenges of living along the famed road," the filmmakers said in a statement.

Luke McManus explains in his director's note that this is a "personal film," which happens to be his feature documentary debut. "I have lived just off the road itself for two decades and remain fascinated by its variety, by its contradictions, by the competing tensions that it finds within itself," he said.

The director continued, "There are numerous themes, characters and issues bubbling beneath the surface of the North Circular Road when you walk along it. A certain darkness at times, a celebratory energy at others: this single road encompasses so much diversity of human experience."

He explains how the film's use of black and white connects the culture of the past and present day, as is a major theme in the film. It uses music as a vehicle of storytelling as both an "aesthetic and an editorial decision" to create a new innovative documentary style as well as reflect traditional musical storytelling of Dublin.

Watch the trailer for North Circular below: