Last night, Ireland’s Belfast city centre hosted the European premiere of the motion picture City of Ember. It is also the place where the movie was shot. It stars Bill Murray and Tim Robbins, and was produced by Tom Hanks.

Another extremely appreciated presence is fourteen-year-old rising star and Oscar, Bafta and Golden Globe 2007 nominee Saoirse Ronan. She appeared very enthusiastic at the people’s reaction after the premiere. "I'm just after going round the whole room and asking people did they like it, so they did which is brilliant," she said smiling.

The story is based on Jeanne DuPrau’s children’s book City of Ember, that presents a world of fantasy and science fiction. The scenario involves the end of the world (without mentioning what caused it), which forces the survivors to move to an underground city built to last for 200 years, after which, according to the estimations, it will be safe to come out for fresh air. There is also a box, scheduled to open once the two centuries end, which should explain everything to the survivors.

The people seem to be comfortable with the situation, and obey without asking any questions the city’s succession of mayors. The one in charge at the moment is portrayed by Bill Murray. He is a corrupt man who maintains a secret bunker with canned goods. The city’s power source, its generator, is on the verge of collapse after 250 years of activity and the regular blackouts leave the city in complete darkness.

As with any such scenario, there is always someone to question the rules and order. In this case, two recent high school grads, Doon (Harry Treadaway) and Lina (Saoirse Ronan), search for some answers about their present state. Lina’s relatives include a previous mayor, who died before passing on the valuable box. She begins to learn its secrets and also to figure out the messy instructions for making it outside of Ember.

The extended cast is composed of Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Martin Landau, Toby Jones, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Mary Kay Place.

The movie is a family-focused adventure which is very likely to appeal first of all to the younger audience as it presents a fantastic world, with the action focused on the two teens’ quest for saving an entire population from extinction.

Saoirse Ronan’s popularity exploded last year with her portrayal of a young Briony Tallis, alongside Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, in the movie Atonement.

Bill Murray, coming out of an emotionally-draining divorce, stated that he is ready to dedicate his energy into the upcoming work projects. "I've just come out of a sort of doldrums and I feel like I want to go," he said. "I want to work. I want to get going. I want to do a few things at once. I really want to connect with other people that are going that way and `Let's go'... I want to bounce off like a pinball. Like a pinball, I want to bounce off bumpers that are positive. I want to bounce off people that are positive and hope that'll make me more positive and give me momentum."