| The Crush | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Michael Creagh |
| Produced by | Damon Quinn |
| Written by | Michael Creagh |
| Starring | Olga Wehrly Rory Keenan Charlie Bonner Neili Conroy |
| Cinematography | Jim Creagh |
| Editing by | Ciara Brophy |
| Release date(s) | 22 April 2010 (Tribeca) |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
The Crush is an Irish live action short film. The film's runtime is approximately 15 minutes. It was written and directed by first-timer Michael Creagh, and produced by Damon Quinn.[1] The film was shot during Easter 2009 in Skerries, north Dublin.[2] Creagh cast his eight-year-old son Oran in the lead role of the story.[3] The story sees an eight year old schoolboy (played by Oran Creagh) fall in love with his teacher, Miss Purdy. One day he gives her a toy ring to show his affection. But heartbreak abounds when he bumps into Miss Purdy and her boyfriend having just bought a very real engagement ring. Devastated and spurned, Ardal challenges Miss Purdy’s fiancé to a duel – to the death!
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Eight year old Ardal Travis has a crush on his second class (second grade) teacher Ms. Purdy. He demonstrates his affections by giving her a toy ring. While shopping with his mother Ardal sees Ms. Purdy who happily explains that she has just been proposed to by her boyfriend Pierce and is engaged to be married. Pierce appears to be a jerk. He refuses to take Ms. Purdy for lunch to celebrate the hour old engagement, instead insisting on going home to watch football. Ardal sees his dad put a gun carefully in the closet; he stares into the closet contemplating his options. Ardal confronts Pierce while he is impatiently waiting for Ms.Purdy outside of the school. Ardal challenges Pierce to a duel to the death, which Pierce mockingly accepts. The next day Ardal meets Pierce in the school yard and pulls the gun on him. Pierce at first believes it is a toy, but Ardal insists it is not. Ms. Purdy attempts to intervene but Ardal refuses to back down. Pierce, reduced to a crying mess, insists that he never loved Ms. Purdy but only proposed to her to “shut her up.” Ardal shoots Pierce and he falls to the ground. It is revealed that the gun was a toy after all that Ardal’s father was saving in the closet until his birthday. Ms. Purdy angrily calls off the engagement and breaks up with Pierce. She walks Ardal home agreeing to “keep this between ourselves.” Ardal announces his crush is over but that Ms. Purdy deserves someone who can give her everything she wants.
The film was awarded Best Irish Short at the 23rd Foyle Film Festival.[2] On 25 January 2011, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film at the 83rd Academy Awards.[4][5]