Dublin Film Festival preview: 'You Are Not My Mother' provides horror with an Irish twist
Hazel Doupe in You Are Not My Mother.
When Hazel Doupe was first offered the role for Irish horror-thriller , she jumped at the opportunity. A huge fan of scary movies throughout her teenage years as well as more spooky elements of Irish folklore, she grabbed the chance to play the lead in the creepy debut feature from writer-director Kate Dolan.
The result is an unnerving and effective thriller which is among several Irish movies coming to this years’ Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.
The extensive programme of native and international cinema will run from February 23 to March 6, with 40% of the films also available nationwide via DIFF’s online rental platform.
Doupe, who first came to prominence in Cork filmmaker Carmel Winters’ charming, West Cork-set feature , relished the opportunity to work in a horror thriller.
She’s been fascinated by the genre ever since she secretly watched Michelle Pfeiffer in , at her home in Lusk, Co Dublin.
“I think it was my parents watching it, in the sitting room,” she recalls. “I was supposed to be gone to bed, but I had opened the door a tiny bit so I could sit there and watch through the crack.
"Each time something scary would happen I'd shoot my head away from having to watch it,” she laughs.
Rooted in Irish folklore, centres on Char, a teenager whose mother Angela (Carolyn Bracken) disappears in unnerving circumstances. When she returns home without explanation the following evening, Char and her grandmother become convinced that something is amiss.
As well as the regular frights, the feature also sees Char suffer from some pretty extreme bullying at the hands of her peers. Was making the film an intense experience?
“I think the character, in particular the way the character of Char responds to her surroundings, definitely has a physical effect on you.
"She's quite a quiet and unconfident person, she doesn't really trust herself. So keeping it light on set was huge — when the cameras weren't on, myself and Kate and Carolyn would be just cracking jokes and having a good time.”
The film also taps into both Dolan’s and Doupe’s interest in folk horror. Elements include the Púca, a mysterious creature that can be a sign of impending doom. It traditionally takes the form of different creatures including a black horse.
“I have a bit of a love for folk horror and folktales and myths in general."
“When Angela is driving, and she nearly crashed into the horse, that’s an omen of the supernatural world crossing over with the physical world. It's a very dark omen, apparently.”
Doupe has been making a name for herself on the big and small screen since her impressive work on . We recently saw her on hit RTÉ whodunnit , where she played the no-nonsense Ingrid, a young woman with a good reading of a stranger who arrives into the lives of feisty family the Aherns. It was a character unlike any she’d played before.
“I played this character that was so free and simple-minded and was really grounded and wise and youthful. It was definitely a turning point for me in my understanding of film and TV, I think.”
Another, yet to be announced feature film beckons for the 19-year-old this summer in what is a very vibrant period for the Irish screen industries.
“It’s a very exciting time. You can see the pickup in the last number of years in Irish film, the quality of film that’s being produced here, the quantity as well, of films that are being produced, is huge.
"And it's really encouraging to see all these fabulous films being made and being premiered at international film festivals.”
- screens at DIFF and goes on general release in cinemas on March 4. More details at the DIFF website.
DIFF returns with a full in-person programme as well as a wide programme of online screenings from Wednesday, February 23, to Sunday, March 6.
- Following strong reviews at its world premiere in Berlin — where it won two awards — Colm Bairéad’s Irish-language feature makes its Irish debut at DIFF. Young Catherine Clinch plays Cáit, who is growing up as part of a dysfunctional family in the 1980s. Sent away to stay in foster care for the summer, the story that unfolds is told through her eyes and explores the nature and meaning of family.
- This documentary is set in the post-conflict Ardoyne region of Belfast, where maverick teacher (and Elvis fan) Kevin AcArevey is headmaster at a local school. In a community that has been plagued by social disadvantage and violence, McArevey and his team are determined to better the lives of their students. They do so through the wisdoms of the ancient Greek philosophers that have stood the test of time.
- Joachim Trier’s Norwegian comedy-drama — nominated for Best International Feature at this year's Oscars — centres on four years in the life of a woman named Julie. A romantic comedy that subverts the usual rom-com tropes, it follows her as she navigates her messy love life and career plans. Renate Reinsve won Best Actress at Cannes for her performance.
- DIFF will host the world premiere of this highly anticipated documentary about Vicky Phelan. Since she spoke on the steps of the High Court following one of the worst women’s health scandals in Irish history, Phelan’s campaign work has made her a central figure in Irish life. The film pursues that journey and her personal account of her efforts to stay alive.
- Blending action, drama, and humour, this Korean film brings to life the dramatic events of embassy officials in 1991 Somalia. As civil war raged, diplomats from both North and South Korea realised they would have to work together to have any hope of escape.
- Conor McMahon’s blend of horror and comedy features an up-for-it cast and the involvement of iconic 'Buffy' star Anthony Head. It centres on a young Dubliner who discovers his brother has been turned into a vampire — and must choose whether to save him or slay him.
