Katriona O’Sullivan, now a lecturer in Maynooth, released a memoir last year, called Poor, which has inspired a new short film by Joe McGucken.
Hometime deals with themes of alcohol abuse and its impact on others, specifically children, set within a working-class community in Dublin in the 1990s.
The film was screened at the Indie Cork Film Festival this week and will also be shown the Kerry International Film Festival on Saturday, October 19.
“Joe read my book and sent me a message on Instagram saying it was so much like his own story,” Katriona said.
“He invited me to be an extra in the film. I wanted to be a part of it because it’s the story of a lot of people’s experiences as children, hanging around a pub waiting for your mam to come home.
“Or in my case, I’ve been that mam as well. It reflected two sides of my own story.
Hometime follows the story of Sam and his mother in the pub on the boy’s birthday
“I could really feel and resonate with the mam. It’s an important story to show and everybody involved is from a working-class background.
“In our art and filmmaking, you don’t really get to see people like us in that space. The authenticity of the process was something I just felt like I really wanted to be part of. It resonates with my own life as a mother, but also as a child.
“This isn’t everybody’s experience of growing up in the city, some people went to the pub and had great craic and went home. But there are 5 to 10pc of people who live like this.
“I think it’s important to show that, whether it’s through my book or through film, I think it’s an important thing to highlight,” she added.
Hometime follows a young boy, Sam (Cole Murray), as he wastes a birthday sitting in a pub watching his mother (Lauren Larkin) descend into a drunken haze.
McGucken set out to capture the helpless feeling of a child spending time in environments no child should be in, and watching your hero transform into someone so vulnerable.
Katriona O’Sullivan said she wanted to be part of the process of making the film. Pic: Steve Humphreys
Trying to stay true to the nature of the story, Joe collaborated with Katriona who understands the realities and struggles of growing up in this environment.
“It’s written, directed and produced by people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds,” Katriona said.
“Joe’s serious about art, about telling authentic stories, being involved in social justice, and making sure that diverse people are represented on screen.
“Writing Poor was me saying there’s loads of girls like me and we need help. We need support, we need investment. We need good people. I felt that maybe I could use my story for good.
“In some senses, I felt like I had a responsibility to tell my story and say there’s so much talent in poor communities. We just need the conditions to be able to demonstrate that to the world.
“I wasn’t singing my way through the trauma stories. I was sitting in Avoca crying my eyes out. But there were other times I was laughing.
“There was more joy that came from it in the end because I was able to rediscover my parents and the love that I have for them.”
