SILENT GRACE

Ireland, 2000, 87 minutes, Colour.
Orla Brady, Cathleen Bradley, Conor Mullan, Cara Seymour, Robert Newman, Dawn Bradfield.
Directed by Maeve Murphy.

Silent Grace is an Irish film, based on a play, Now and at the Hour of Our Death. Made in 2001, it is set twenty years earlier, focusing on the Troubles in Northern Ireland but especially focusing on women. The men were in the Maze prison, the women were in Armagh prison. This film focuses on a number of characters, prisoners, and those in charge of the prison.

1. A film from Ireland, based on a play, Now and the Hour of Our Death? The realities of Northern Ireland, the IRA? The screen history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland? This film and its memoir, contributing to the peace process? Stark realities - or softened for cinema viewers?

2. The film based on a play, fictionalised version of actual happenings? Audience knowledge of these events? 1979-80, the IRA, the men in the Maze prison, the women in Armagh prison, the hunger strikes, the men leading the protest, not allowing the women to join the hunger strike? This film focusing on the women, their hunger strike? The aftermath?

3. Eileen as the officer in charge in the prison, the small group, their parade in the yard, it being seen as political? Cunningham and his Protestant background, in charge of the prison, humanity? No information given about the actual actions of the women? The men in the Maze, their sending messages to the women via the priest? The priest and his role as chaplain, his stances? The regime? The day-by-day horarium of the prisoners, Margaret and Eileen in the cell, Geraldine and the communication? Twenty-three hours locked in the cells? The decision about the hunger strike? The excrement on the wall, not washing, the protest? Eileen and her leadership, her negotiating various issues with Cunningham? Her illness, taking to bed, the priest and his visit, her not wanting to break the hunger strike, going to hospital, her recovery? The application of the cat and mouse law?

4. Geraldine and Aine, the clash between the two, coming to an agreement, sharing the lipstick, Geraldine's grief and wiping the lipstick, her being in jail for another nine years? Their going out, the sport, Geraldine being hit? The change of cell partners, Margaret leaving Eileen's cell and Aine going in? The sport in the yard? Waiting for orders?

5. Cunningham, his administration of the prison, the sketch of the other guards, men and women? Humanity, lack of humanity? The visits? The negotiations? Cunningham and his attitudes towards the edicts coming from Britain, his siding with Eileen? The discussions with Father Mc Garry, the cat and mouse law? His prison, his decisions - and his being seen at the window, at the end as Aine left?

6. Father Mc Garry, his appearance, his role as chaplain, bringing messages from the Maze? Cunningham in the chapel, Father Mc Garry in vestments? His anointing Eileen? Aine's comment that he was either gay or repressed - her not understanding his role as a celibate priest and chaplain in the difficult circumstances? His wanting to be non-political, urging Eileen to life, his being pro-life? The cat and mouse legislation?

7. Aine's story, cheeky with the police, sniffing glue, with her boyfriend, his not stopping at the lights, her comments on his brother, the brother's being shot? The stolen car? Her sullen behaviour in the court, claiming she was part of the IRA? Her mother in court? Twelve months? Going to the prison, surliness, the cell, the initial clash with Geraldine, lending her the lipstick? The discussions? Her visits, especially with her mother? Getting the news? Being transferred to Eileen's cell, afraid of her, listening to her, the change of attitude? Reading, learning about Irish history? Talking about signing up? Her unwillingness to join the protest, her eating the food? Her being sick, the excrement, her finally joining the protest? Sports action in the yard? Eileen's growing illness, Aine wanting to help, running the corridor to get help? Her finally signing the document, her being a criminal, being released, her mother waiting for her?

8. The glimpses of the other prisoners, Margaret, her support of Eileen? Their political stances? Not criminals? Wanting justice?

9. The tone of the film, the dark photography, the confinement to the prison (except for Eileen's delirious flashback to walking the fields in the sunset)? The hardships in the cell, the ravages of illness.