BREAKING GROUND: THE STORY OF THE LONDON IRISH WOMEN'S CENTRE (2013) - ♦♦ 

Directed by - Michelle Deignan

 

 

"A feminist documentary made with an all-female crew, Breaking Ground is a documentary about the London Irish Women’s Centre, which was founded in the early eighties to represent and support generations of Irish women in London. 

 

Despite hints at radicalism, Deignan’s film is far from being a sort of aggressive manifesto. Breaking Ground comes across as warm and soft-spoken. Director Michelle Deignan’s interviews the people who were actively involved in the group and makes full use of the primary source archive footage to offer great intimate insight that helps highlight the importance of such support groups and their effect on society. 

 

As a documentary, it doesn’t come across as the kind of powerful work that takes a stance and it’s highly unlikely that it will start any type of revolt – but then again, that is not the kind of film it wants to be. Breaking Ground feels more like a simple and sincere tribute to the ordinary people of any kind who rise up against discrimination and represent solidarity by having an impact on their community through kindness, harmony and tolerance."

 

 

Documentary, UK/Ireland