NI Independents – Mid-length Programme
Sea of Glass – dir. Mervyn Marshall – 23 mins
Julia, played with quiet precision by Rose Henderson, fills her days beach-combing, gathering treasures and adding them to her collection. However her mind is elsewhere as she stews over her seemingly strained relationship with her granddaughter. Her efforts to connect via calls and voice messages go unanswered, time passes and she falls further into solitude.
This film expertly punctuates this journey with the changing of seasons, filmed across eight months, director Mervyn Marshall allows the changes in weather and light to demonstrate Julia’s isolation where she is seemingly suspended in place as the world changes around her.
Bubble – dir. Patricia Downey – 24 mins
Filmed on location in Maghaberry Prison, Bubble focusses on three women who despite their differences in life experiences, find themselves incarcerated. Through the womens conversations we come to understand the difficulties of life both inside and outside prison walls.
Inspired by the lived experience of women within the criminal justice system, it is a timely reflection on issues of domestic violence, addiction and trauma. Director Patricia Downeys 25 years of experience can be felt in this excellently crafted and insular production which allows the performances to shine as they range from moments of humour to intense vulnerability.
Dark Disquiet – dir. Sohaib Syed – 41mins
A struggling mother, Abigail faces tragic consequences following a domestic row concerning her drinking, she is then sent on a voyage into mysterious realms in order to right the wrongs of her actions. Director Sohaib Syed artfully balances surreal moments with psychological tensions, grounding the film in themes of sacrifice, grief and relationship difficulties.