8.5 Hours

"8.5 Hours" is a drama about one extraordinary day in the lives of four Dublin office workers during the final months of Ireland's Celtic Tiger years. A controversial mix of intense drama and some very black comedy, it depicts the personal lives of four workers in a small software company spiralling out of control throughout the course of one working day from 9.00 to 5.30, the 8.5 hours of the title. Sexually charged and constantly surprising, the story relentlessly twists and turns and builds to a series of haunting and unforgettable resolutions.

Directed by Brian Lally, 8.5 Hours leans on a strong ensemble — Rachel Lally, Lynette Callaghan, Jonathan Byrne — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 2008.