Boyle premiere of domestic violence film

SLIGO filmmaker Marilyn O’Connor says she is ‘ overwhelmed’ with the response she has received to her new film about domestic violence.

Ms O’Connor, who lives in Ballinafad, screened ‘ Change The Conversation’ in Boyle on Sunday. The film has received over 10,000 views on Facebook already.

“The response has been amazing, we’ve received a lot of really positive feedback,” said Marilyn. She released her own film ahead of the National Moment of Remembrance for Women murdered through domestic violence in Ireland.

“I had my own experience in the past with violence. We have a terrible problem with abuse in this country. The services are there but there’s a real shortage of refuges for women who are brave enough to leave their abusive partners,” she said.

Marilyn, a writer, self- funded the film and was keen to give roles to local actors and actresses, which she did. Gráinne Caldbeck and Kieran Cunnane were cast as the main characters, while Gráinne’s daughter Heidi also played a role. “We had to find a little girl who had a connection with Gráinne, so Gráinne’s daughter Heidi came along.”

“When I wrote it I had two endings, one happy ending and another was more shocking.

“On the night before we started filming my instincts kicked in and I chose the shocking ending because that’s more of a reality for people.

“I want to portray the impact that domestic violence has not only on the women involved but the children too,” she said.