Strongly-worded short film shows high toll of job loss (NSFW)

A powerful short film is putting a human face on job loss and money worries, and the toll they can take.

The lead character in The Bridge loses his job, and has to break the news at home. A terrible row ensues between him and his partner, and he leaves in anger.

He bumps into a stranger, who sees his distress and tries to add perspective that everyone is always needed by their family. His words come too late though.

The Bridge by Limerick-based Peter McNamara - an uncompromising and tough 13 minutes of film in which the central performance by Philip P Coffey is particularly strong - is set shortly before Christmas but only recently published on YouTube.

(Not safe for work, by the way, due to frequent swearing.)

Some of the comments from viewers include:

“Well done Peter. Comes across really strong, isn't watered down. Feels real and emotional. Great piece of work.”

“This was great, stripped to the bone, the Irish psyche. And the message that any problems no matter how big are mostly temporary.”

Peter told breakingnews.ie that he quit his job as a tiler to go back to school to learn about film-making, because there were real stories he wanted to tell. He started making films just six months ago.

There's a lot of swearing in the The Bridge, and Peter says that was a deliberate decision by himself and writing partner Declan Costello to ensure the film reflected how people really talk.

"Philip and I are both 33-year-old Limerick men," he said. "Everyone we know has been touched (by the issues in the film). When we shared it yesterday, so many people thanked us for making it.

"We were excited that it might help (even) one person."

H/T: Reddit