6 Stunning Documentaries To Catch At IFI’s Documentary Festival
Words: Dray Morgan
Kicking off today, the IFI are hosting their annual Documentary Festival. With multiple Irish premieres of globally acclaimed films as well as debuting some of Ireland’s finest docs of the past year. With at least two documentaries per day, the lust for the real can be quenched from 25-29 September. Click here to see the full program.
The Brink Of Dreams
Time: 20:45
Directed By: Ayman El Amir, Nada Riyadh
In a remote village in southern Egypt, a group of girls protest the conservatism of their culture by forming a street theatre troupe. They dream of becoming actresses, dancers, and singers, challenging the expectations of their families with their subtly confrontational performances, and provocative questioning of the status quo. Shot over a four-year period, The Brink of Dreams, co-winner of the Golden Eye award for best documentary at the Cannes Film Festival, follows the girls from childhood to womanhood, as they face crucial choices whilst trying to remain true to the values of their troupe.
How I Became A Communist
Time: 20:40
Directed by: Declan Clarke
The life of an elderly woman running a farm in the countryside between Northern Ireland and the Republic is observed in a portrait marked by stillness and a meticulous chronicling of the everyday. The film also explores the decline of left-wing political movements in Europe in modern times. Artist Declan Clarke paints a picture of the desire for revolution which is explored through life on the farm and the complex history of Northern Ireland.
Blossoming: Tales of Growing Up
Time: 13:40
Directed by: Elena Horgan, Plex Goldwin, Jose Miguel Jimenez, Ashish Prasai, Ruari Bradley, Simisolaoluwa Akande
Part of the IFI’s shorts programme, Irish filmmakers have come together to explore the multifaceted struggle of adolescence. Six separate films, each looking at subjects from different demographics and backgrounds of Irish culture.
Housewife of the Year
Time: 15:30
Directed by: Ciaran Cassidy
A film looking at the bizarre Irish competition of “Housewife of the Year” which ran for almost 30 years across the late 20th century. Running from 1969 to 1995, the competition put housewives from across the country against each other to see who was the ultimate stay-at-home partner. This documentary explores not only the on-stage performances but also the home life of these contestants, painting a vivid picture of Ireland’s uptight traditions.
Amplified: The Exportation of the Culture Wars
17:50
Directed by: Mike Sheridan
A film that looks at the American export of cultural conflict. Drawing on the tumultuous year that Ireland has had and joining the dots with the rhetoric which has been circulated in post-Trump times. Examining what events led to the Dublin riots last November, the doc talks with a director of the CIA, Irish politicians, evangelical propagandists and much more.
Black Box Diaries
Time: 20:10
Directed by: Shiro Ito
Japanese journalist Shiori Itō embarks on a courageous investigation of her own sexual assault to prosecute her high-profile offender; her quest becomes a landmark case, exposing the country’s outdated judicial and societal systems, and has been credited with bringing #MeToo to Japan. Over five long years, from the age of 27 to 33, Itō went public and pursued her attacker, a well-known media figure, and biographer of then-prime minister Shinzo Abe. Directed by Itō herself, and based on her 2017 memoir, Black Box Diaries captures her tumultuous, heart-wrenching, but ultimately triumphant journey.
