16 June 2010 (Movie Interview)

Words: Mark 'Lenny' Linehan

“A man loves his girlfriend the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.” Old Irish Proverb

Immediately upon meeting Director Ken Wardrop I detect a sense of how he was able to extract such natural performances from the subjects in his movie. His & Hers is the first feature documentary for this seasoned short film maker. His previous film Undressing my Mother, one of Ireland’s most successful short films, won a European Film Academy Award in 2005. His latest features 70 Irish women, each on camera to tell a story of love or loss, about their fathers, fiancés, husbands, and sons, to weave an enchanting ageless and poignant portrayal of Irish life.

There I was, waiting to meet Ken in the library room of the Dylan Hotel. At least, I think it's the 'library room' - two of the four walls are flanked with books all featuring the same generic blue cover. Tapping my fingers on my leg, I fulfill my curiousity and stand up to see if they are real, and if I pull the correct novel, the wall will spin around to reveal a darkened banquet room or a gothic laboratory. Slowly, I pull the frst book off the shelf. Nothing moves. The book of choice is called Thatcher :The Downing Street Years. I giggle, but when I open it up, the centre of the book falls open to a page containing a small sheet of paper titled 'Novena Prayer.' Jesus. I close the book and laugh out loud just as this figure enters the room. "Oh, your checking the library, looks like fun?" The next five minutes are consumed with myself and Ken searching through the tomes at hand trying to find the best novel. "Got it," he shouts, and hands me a copy of Fur Farming For Profit. "Hold on," I say and grab a copy of Zombie Cucumber. "You win," he laughs, but we both agree that Fur Farming For Profit will be on our list for 2010.

Wardrop's films have been described as more anthropology than film-making, and I can see where the comparison arises. "Are you grand? Do you need a drink or anything? Will we get started?" His conscious attempts to make me feel comfortable allow me to feel at ease and to fully understand how the subjects of the film gave him their trust. "People were fascinated that I was making a film about ordinary people. The vast majority were delighted, intrigued and curious as to how I was going to tell this story. One thing you can be guaranteed about Irish people and that is they love having the chats. There was a lot of trust between myself and the subjects." Offaly was the epicentre for the production. In order to find the subjects Ken and his production team placed many different ads in newspapers, hung about wherever women were gathering from Camogie clubs to mothers and toddlers groups, to the ICA. "I chose the midlands because that’s where my mother is from (Ethal Wardrop features in the movie as no. 68) and I began to explore other families similar to our own and women similar to my Mother to also give them the chance to tell their story."

The subject of each little vignette is either in their bedroom, kitchen, sitting room or hallway revealing their story. This was as much to do with budget as style. "The narrative and visual style we created for His & Hers had a lot to do with our budget and production practicalities. Another important choice (rule) we made was to locate the camera indoors. We couldn’t afford to lose a day to rain and so it seemed like a sensible solution. The final shot is the only image taken from outdoors and it seemed a fitting conclusion to the film."

However, the production process took up hard long days. Ken chose to edit the film, so by the end of the process he says he was exhausted and deflated. It's been worth it though. What he has produced is one of the most honest and refreshing portrayals of Irish life as seen through the women living here. There are no ridiculous over-acting Oirish villains or larger than life charicatures, seen in so many productions from this country, just a genuine slice of real life. The low budget does not affect the finished product, and it is testament to Wardrop's artistic and spatial direction that you slowly begin to get sucked into this painting of rural life. Affectionate, organic and heartwarming, you really get the sense that each volunteer really enjoyed taking part. "Irish people have a turn of phrase, a sense of humour, and a kind of mischief and sparkle in the eye that is unique, no other nationality has that. It’s like one of those moments when you go home and sit around the kitchen table and think to yourself, 'I am part of a family.' You will genuinely like everyone you see. It's a sense of sharing something which will not come with other films that are in the cinema, which are a much more individual experience."

Unfortunately, it very difficult to convince the cinema going popcorn public to go to see a documentary, but Wardrop is confident by the response he has received, here and abroad, "American audiences were warmed and charmed by the film. The biggest emotional response to it has been from men in their mid-thirties, which I never expected. Mother is a very important figure and they may also have their grandmothers. But, this film is as much about the Irish male as it is the female, and the reaction reflected that. Word of mouth will be so important to this movie. There is a charm and plenty of laughs and very poignant too. We hope people will see that."

Find out more at the website hisandhers.ie

 

Check out Mark on TodayFM. Every Thursday night on KC's show 10-12midnight.

Back to Movie Exclusives