Dir: Margo Harkin 107 minutes, Ireland, 2023, 15A
There are dark secrets buried underneath this waterlogged surface
Margo Harkin’s devastating yet essential documentary explores the dark history of Ireland’s mother-and-baby homes, as well as the broader mistreatment of women and children in Catholic Ireland. From recounting the shocking secrets uncovered in Tuam by local historian Catherine Corless, to talking to those directly impacted by forced adoptions, this is a powerful testament to the people impacted by institutional cruelty.
“★★★★ [Harkin’s film] comes at the topic from several angles… but the emotional centre of the film remains, as it should be, with the survivors of institutional barbarism”- Donald Clarke, The Irish Times