Disney+ Acquires ‘Brown Bread,’ Directorial Debut of Shaunagh Connaire, Former Exec at George and Amal Clooney’s Justice Foundation (EXCLUSIVE)

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• Related Stories Lady Gaga to Premiere 'Harlequin Live' Christmas Eve on YouTube: 'By Harlequin Standards, Christmas Is the Perfect Time to Release Something Rebellious,' She Says (EXCLUSIVE) Lady Gaga Pauses Sydney Show After Mayhem Ball Dancer Falls Off Stage The film — described by Connaire as a “modern twist on the Irish emigration story” — is led by Emmy-winning actress Fionnula Flanagan (“Lost,” “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes”), Katie McGrath (“Merlin,” “Supergirl”) and Dermot Crowley (“Luther: The Fallen Sun,” “The Death of Stalin”).
• Popular on Variety Inspired by Connaire’s own experience of being unable to travel to Ireland from the U. S.
• to attend her godmother’s funeral, the story follows Áine (McGrath), a woman whose return to Ireland from New York to attend her godmother’s memorial mass stirs up old tensions, grief, and unspoken affection in her rural family home.
• Flanagan stars as Betty, a proud but emotionally restrained mother struggling with her daughter’s return, while Crowley plays Áine’s father Seamus.
• “Having my first scripted film acquired by Disney so early in its life is so wonderful,” said Connaire.