VERDICT: This darkly comic character portrait depicts an actor presenting a facsimile of grief that is a thin veneer over the real thing waiting to erupt.
There is a grim absurdity at the heart of Oliver McGoldrick’s short film Three Keenings.
“Keening” is tradition in Gaelic culture in which a form of vocal lamentation is undertaken by people unconnected to the deceased. In this film, they are a group of actors who arrive at funerals by minibus with a variety of different routines in which they wail for the passing of someone while their actual family watch on in stunned silence. In theory, it is about people unencumbered by actual grief who have the freedom to openly express it where the genuine mourners may not –McGoldrick turns the tables, depicting someone who loudly weeps for work while trying to keep his own emotions at bay.
The film is set against the landscapes of rural Northern Ireland, where Ian (Seamus O’Hara) is one of the supporting players in this troupe of travelling players. They go from funeral to funeral, never having any attachment to the real emotions of the people observing them, out-performing them without a thought. It may have its roots in more communal tradition, but this is keening as cynicism and commerce. It’s about convincing the boss you have what it takes to understudy for a colleague and dismissing the confusion of young boy at the people faking grief at his father’s passing.
However, for McGoldrick, Ian’s routine is multi-layered. He is not only projecting grief for his work but projecting a lack of it in his life. As the reality of his own family situation becomes evident, the audience begins to wonder what exactly is re-enactment and what is not – and do not all public displays of emotion come laden with some level of performativity. O’Hara brilliantly bristles as Ian, his real-life act not as convincing as the one on the clock. Here the acting of mourning becomes entwined with the act of mourning, and perhaps allows some level of the real self to be laid bare by performance.
Director, screenplay: Oliver McGoldrick
Cast: Seamus O’Hara, Sean Kearns, Carol Moore, Caitriona Hinds, Niall Cusack Producers: Oliver McGoldrick, Natalie Remplakowski, Cade Featherstone, Chloe Langton Cinematography: Gianna Badiali Editing: Oliver McGoldrick, Reuben Hamlyn Sound: Matteo Di Cugno, Ines Adriana Music: Alex Gray Production design: Marianne Auvinet-Gould, Myles Thompson Costume design: Katie Ireland World sales: Ouat Media (Canada) Venue: Venice Film Festival (Orizzonti Short Films Competition) In English 10 minutes
