Silent Grace (2001)
In 1976 the British Government put an end to the special category status of prisoners from the Provisional Irish Republican Army, no longer treating them as prisoners of war, but as common criminals. Mairéad Farrell – on whose life much of the film seems to be loosely based – was the first woman Republican to be refused political status in 1976. By 1980, when the film is set, Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister and doggedly resolute: “There can be no question of political status for someone who is serving a sentence for crime. Crime is crime is crime.” Silent Grace seeks to capture the struggle for the restoration of political status that was at the heart of prison protests in Northern Ireland – not just by the more celebrated male prisoners – but by a smaller number of women prisoners, led by Farrell, at the Armagh Women’s Prison.
Director: Maeve Murphy
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Orla Brady as Eileen |
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Cathleen Bradley as Aine Quinn |
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Conor Mullen as Cunningham |
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Cara Seymour as Margaret |
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Rob Newman as Father McGarry |
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Dawn Bradfield as Geraldine |
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Patrick Bergin as Peter (as Patrick Connolly Bergin) |
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Michael Liebman as Warden Mark (as Michael Liebman) |
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Marc O'Shea as Kevin Wheelan |
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Sarah Boyd-Wilson as Ann Bates |
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Dean Pritchard as Patsy |
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Ita Campbell as Nuala |
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Christian McCashin as Young Soldier |
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Carol Moore as Mrs Quinn |
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Gerry McColgan as Magistrate |
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Roisin Loughrey as Defence Lawyer |
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Abbie Spallen as Warden Susan |
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Maeve Murphy as Roisin |
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Nessa Millet as Marie |
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Robbie Fry as Dr Carson |
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Colm Ó Maonlaí as Conor |
| Writing | Maeve Murphy | Writer |
| Directing | Maeve Murphy | Director |
