Saint Patrick VS. The Southside

After being away from Earth for more than 1,500 years, Saint Patrick has returned and is shocked to find that drinking is going on in his name at Chicago’s 2009 South Side Irish Parade!  The poor old guy might have been able to drive the snakes out of Ireland but that was nothing compared to the task of trying to get 340,000 Chicagoans to give up the drink. And to add insult to injury, for some reason everybody thinks St. Paddy is the pope….or Moses.

Saint Patrick VS. The Southside was filmed on March 15th, 2009 among the crowds at what would turn out to be Chicago’s final South Side Irish parade.  “Saint Patrick” is played by local actor Nick Freed but the lovable lushes St. Paddy encounters as he wanders down 111th Street are all genuine parade-goers.  Though it was intended to be a light-hearted look at one of city’s most beloved traditions, this short film captures a street-level view of an event that has sadly become just another piece of Chicago history.