His & Hers Film
From:October 19, 2010 20:00 to: October 19, 2010 22:00
Location: Ballina Arts Centre
His & Hers
(Dir: Ken Wardrop, Ireland, 2009)
Rarely have the odd and the ordinary combined to such beguiling effect. Winner of a host of prizes, Ken Wardrop’s debut feature comprises a large number of conversations with ordinary (but remarkable) Irish women.
About 70 women, all from the Irish midlands, arranged in ascending order of age, tell stories about the men in their lives. Shot in slightly grainy, attractively washed-out colours, the participants begin by discussing dads, go on to ponder boyfriends, and then move on to sons and husbands.
It begins with a baby; and ends with an elderly lady philosophically contemplating decline. As the film progresses, the various unseen men appear to coalesce into a portrait of one decent, slightly useless but hopelessly lovable individual. He makes a nice curry, but he doesn’t do such a good job with the washing-up.
Among the most moving of many touching moments comes when a young contributor discusses her boyfriend (and all boyfriends). “It’s like they have your heart in their hands and they can do what they like with it,” she says.
The result is a near-perfect act of cinematic sleight of hand: a beautiful tale told apparently by accident. No wonder His & Hers is the most lauded Irish film since Hunger.
Adm: €7 (seasonal membership rates available).
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