Representing Ireland in the 19th European Film Festival of India, ‘Aisling Gheal’ (Bright Vision) will tour 10 cities across India from February until July.
The festival will feature one film selected from each of the EU countries. ‘Aisling Gheal’ will travel to New Delhi, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Jodhpur, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and Kolkata with directors Dónal Ó Céilleachair and Julius Ziz.
The film uses Sean-nós (unaccompanied traditional Irish singing) singers to embody a tradition that stretches back to a time before the fall of the Gaelic nobility. ‘Aisling Gheal’ is one of the most revered songs from this tradition and is also the name of the organization responsible for helping to bring the tradition to the next generations. ‘Aisling Gheal’ are a team of women passionately keeping Sean-nós alive and attracting young protégés all the time. Amongst them is 10-year-old Shahira Apraku who attends the local Gaelscoil and embodies an entire new generation of Irish speakers. Shahira’s journey, the struggles of the women, the songs of the Sean-nós and the flow of the Sullane River provide parallel intersecting narrative vehicles for this documentary.
The Anú Pictures production features Amanda Carmody, Phyllis Riordan, Madeleine Barrett, Chris Moriarty, Des Lally, Eileen Moore and music by Peadar Ó Riada. Associate producer is Emer Ní Maoilearca. ‘Aisling Gheal’ is based on the works of Irish writer and philosopher John Moriarty (1938 – 2007).
Speaking about the upcoming festival, Ó Céilleachair said: “We are honoured to learn that the sound of the songs of the Sean-nós will be drifting through the air of cities like Delhi and Goa this Spring and Summer; somehow we do not think they will seem so out of place; like ancient tunes following their ancestral songlines and completing their pre-destined journeys back home.”
Some of the other countries involved in the festival include Austria (‘Breathing’), France (‘Love Like Poison’), Italy (‘Easy’), Hungary (‘Fresh Air’), Luxembourg (‘Blind Spot’), UK (‘Killing Bono’), Bulgaria (‘Sneakers’) and Germany (‘Lessons Of A Dream’).
‘Aisling Gheal’ was made with the support of the BAI and in association with CCTV (Cork Community Television) as the broadcasters.
For more information on the 19th European Film Festival of India click here.
The trailer for ‘Aisling Gheal’ is available to view below:
Aisling Gheal (Bright Vision) from Anú Pictures on Vimeo.
