DOLLHOUSE

Ireland, 2012, 95 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Kirsten Sheridan.

Just as well the director answered questions after the screening – to give the meaning intended for what was a deeply difficult film to sit through. The director is Kirsten Sheridan (Disco Pigs, August Rush), daughter of director, Jim Sheridan.

After the American experience of August Rush, she wanted to go back to Ireland and make a small budget film in her own way and in her own time. While she has the credit, ‘written by..’, she pointed out that she had done a basic treatment for producers and relied on the cast (most new to film) to improvise on the (very limited) information she suggested about their characters. They did not know the ending.

Why the film is difficult to watch is that it spends more than an hour looking at a group of five young adults who break into a wealthy family house and proceed to trash it and revel in the mess and the destruction. Not a pretty sight, and upsetting for those who would feel invaded and humiliated by this behaviour.

There are several plot twists, especially at the end with the birth of a baby. The director pointed out that she had no intentions of making a reference to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus, despite the expletive at that moment. It was only after someone noted that the birth in a tent erected in the house and the boys standing in front of the mother and child that she realised that there must be something from the Irish unconscious).

Tough going but a picture of alienated youth and the loss in Ireland of ties (including the Church) that made for connections and not this kind of irresponsible, drink and drug fuelled, anti-social behaviour.

1. A slice of life in Ireland?

2. The film taking place inside the house, the range of rooms, decor, possessions? Glimpses of the sea? The use of songs?

3. Ireland in the 21st century, the values, the lack of church influence, a licentious and irresponsible approach in young people?

4. The film as improvised, the cast not knowing what was to happen, developing their own characters? Situations?

5. The time taken in showing the vandalism and the trashing of the house? Audiences responding to this behaviour?

6. The group, their age, men and women, entering the house, the raucous behaviour, hedonistic, no respect? The details of the mess? Unable to care less?

7. The group: the men, their look, the way they were dressed, the man without the teeth, their talking, language, fooling around, messing the house, the fights, drugs, drinking? Their attitudes towards each other? Denise, behaviour, fitting into this pattern?

8. Jeannie, her look, age, alone, wandering the house, touching things, changing the clothes, joining the party?

9. The photos, Jeannie in them, the group wondering about this? The irony that it was her house?

10. Robbie, coming from next door, joining in, sexual behaviour with Denise, his bashing of one of the men, Tim coming in, the young boy observing what was going on?

11. Jeannie, her moods, sick, her pregnancy, giving birth?

12. The helplessness of the group in Jeannie’s condition, one of the young men helping her, the birth of the child, the effect on Jeannie?

13. The crib effect, the tent in the house, the mother and child, the three unwise young men standing in front of it? Unintentional references to the Nativity story?

14. The parents, their arriving home, the different reactions, to the trashing of the house, the furniture and everything stuck upside down...? The father going out to look at the sea? Jeannie not wanting to stay? The reaction of the grandparents to the baby?

15. What was the audience left with, the mystery of the baby, no definite answer as to the father? The subdued attitude of the group leaving – and not meeting again? Hope with the child?