Galway actress creates space for female voice in new short film

There aren’t enough female voices out there to be heard in film and TV, according to Galway actress Linda Bhreathnach, whose filmmaking debut took place during last week’s Film Fleadh.

Originally from Ros Muc in Connemara, Linda wanted to create a new style of film from a female perspective and, in particular, the perspective of a woman from the West of Ireland, and that’s exactly what she did with her new short film Adulting.

“I wanted to make something that speaks for my generation and reflects what real life is actually like for the average Irish person –  how we talk, what we get up to – but not in a way that’s twee or clichéd,” she said.

“I wanted to make something that shows how challenging it can be to know what to do in a world where there are so many options – where to live, the pressure there is to emigrate. And there’s so much pressure nowadays with social media to live this perfect, fulfilled life. This film is an attempt to say it’s okay not to be perfect.”

Linda has been acting since she finished school at the age of 17, playing various roles including Róise de Búrca in Ros na Rún, and Sarah O’Regan in Corp Agus Anam. But with Adulting, Linda was able to get her own female perspective of life across as Jane, a young Galway girl trying to figure her life out after having her heart broken.

“Storytelling is the way we make sense of our world. It helps mould the social collective mentality so it’s important that women have their voices in the mix,” she said.

“Film and TV can help people make sense of their own lives and maybe feel less alone. They can see something on screen and say ‘Oh, I see myself in that character and therefore I feel better about my situation’.

“For me, it would just be refreshing and interesting and satisfying to be able to watch more things that were written by women, because only a woman can really tell a woman’s story just right… how could it be any other way?”

This was the first time Linda had ever written a film, or produced or directed or cast, but it all felt “very natural” as she’s been in the storytelling world for a long time and felt ready: “Plus I had an amazing girl team around me – so creative and eager and talented.”

The film stars Linda herself, Carrie Crowley of Vikings and Fair City, Paraic Breathnach (Jack Taylor, Breakfast on Pluto), Emma Eliza Regan (Jack Taylor, Darkness on the Edge of Town), Sean T. Ó Meallaigh (Vikings, Klondike), and James Riordan (Lipsinkers) among others.

Shot by Justin Davey of Seb Productions in Galway City and Connemara, the film mixes the old traditions such as working on the bog with the Facebook and Tinder habits of today’s youth.

“I kept feeling like I wish there was something I could watch that was just about regular life, and I’ve been wanting more and more to watch and read things that I can relate to as a woman.  I guess I realised I can’t be waiting around for someone else to write the show or film. I had no excuse not to write it myself,” said Linda.

“I thought it would be fun to see something based in Ireland that wasn’t high drama, but that was just very natural and realistic and so that’s what we set about doing.”

The familiar Galway locations will appeal to Galwegians city and countywide and Linda wanted to get across the steady, calm, civilised life of people in Galway.

“People are polite and considerate and there is space and peace and it’s just so beautiful everywhere you look, not to mention drenched in tradition – beautiful, rich tradition. It’s a very privileged part of the planet in many ways. We just don’t often see it like that.”

Linda was lucky to have spent some time in Los Angeles, where she gained confidence in her abilities as an actor and courage to do what she loves without the fear of making mistakes.

It was in LA that she met budding filmmaker Justin Davey who she says has a similar work ethic to her own, as well as similar tastes, passions and motivation, which helped them to work well as a team.

“The film isn’t trying to be cool or witty. It’s just very down to earth and natural and is a little window into a snippet of an average Irish girl’s live.

“One minute she’s drinking fine wine and eating French cheese, and the next she’s out working in the bog, maybe listening to Kanye West in her earphones. It shows the modern and the old life alongside each other and how you can’t judge books by their covers,” she said.

“I feel like [the Galway Film Fleadh screening] is the perfect fruition of the project. Getting into the Fleadh is such an honour and I’ll always be proud of that. It’s such a well-respected and prestigious festival. It feels like such an amazingly powerful seal of approval to be included.”

For more information on this quirky new film, see the Facebook page.