Updated at 15.05
THEATRE, FILM AND television director Louis Lentin, best known for his work in highlighting institutional abuse in Ireland, has passed away aged 81.
Lentin made the TV documentary ‘Dear Daughter’, which focused on the childhood abuse of campaigner Christine Buckley.
Originally aired in 1996, the programme was re-broadcast by RTÉ earlier this year, a month after Buckley passed away following a long battle with cancer.
Here Lentin speaks about the documentary and his interest in Buckley’s story:
The Arts Council today expressed deep regret at Lentin’s passing. Chair Sheila Pratschke said:
His was a strong and brave voice, and his documentaries, in particular, shone a light on a number of issues close to his heart. We offer our sympathies to his wife Ronit, and his children Alana and Miki.
Born in Limerick in 1933, Lentin graduated from Trinity College in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts and quickly began his professional career as a theatre director. The Arts Council said in a statement that Lentin established himself by setting up Art Theatre Productions in 1959, opening with the Irish premieres of Beckett’s ‘Endgame’ and ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’.
In 1973, Lentin won the Jacobs Irish Critics’ Award for contribution to television drama. as well as three US International Film and Television Awards and three Banff nominations. He was appointed Head of Television Drama at RTÉ in 1978, and also wrote for theatre and radio, and taught television, direction and acting.
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Arts and Culture Seán Ó Fearghaíl paid tribute to Lentin, saying, “Louis Lentin was a highly respected theatre, film and television director whose career also saw him make very important contributions to public service broadcasting.
Today Aosdána described Louis Lentin as a multi-award winning artist of great integrity and passion. I know he will be greatly missed by his former colleagues in RTÉ and by his friends and colleagues in theatre, film and television.
Lentin’s last production for RTÉ was ‘Grandpa, Speak to me in Russian’, a 2008 programme about his Jewish paternal grandfather who emigrated to Ireland in the 1890s from Lithuania.
Lentin had over 40 years of experience working in the arts in Ireland.
RTÉ Director General Noel Curran said Lentin made a “major contribution” to RTÉ’s evolution and output over his years with he broadcaster.
“He was with us on the very first broadcast evening of 31 December 1961,” Curran said. “He was passionate about the impact and medium of television and he left a truly impressive legacy of work.”
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