Safe as Houses
Aggie, a woman with Down Syndrome, offers shelter to a young girl when her home is not so welcoming.
Interview with Director Mia Mullarkey
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Safe as Houses is set against a backdrop of domestic violence, where a Down syndrome woman’s offer of solace to a little girl becomes misconstrued. I grew up in a council housing estate, the two-up-two-down type, and I have a brother with autism. So for me, this film paints a vivid picture of a similar working-class estate, the complex community within, and their perceptions of a neurodiverse neighbour. Our mission was not to simplify or resolve but to portray a person who reveals a truth that others don’t see.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It's an incredible piece of writing, made by a talented creative team and it's funded by the national film board of Ireland, Screen Ireland.
This film has moments of humour interwoven with a sad poignancy of prejudice that shapes our world. The film ends on a hopeful note that suggests innocence and friendship will prevail, despite of it all.
There is an incredible lineup of Irish actors involved, including neurodiverse actor, Siobhan Loscher, and Nova Farrelly, a 7-year-old actor, from Dublin.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Identity, friendship and innocence are central to this story.
“The innocent are so few that two of them seldom meet whenthey do meet, their victims lie strewn all round.”- Elizabeth Bowen, The Death of the Heart 1938
Sarah, our writer, stumbled across this quote from Elizabeth Bowen at the Museum of Irish Literature. Upon reading, she felt it captured a sense of what we set out to say in Safe as Houses. Though the story originated from a personal experience of a neurodiverse person that she knew now. The script became something she could investigate on a more universal level. In that, the sociopolitical norms that structure this world, aren’t built to withstand the complexity of authenticity. Not when we are bound to categories, and relentlessly asked to take up defences in the protection of our own identities. It’s a challenge every character in this story faces, but no one more so than the pure-hearted Aggie and Lucy. Far be it for kindness and trust to be subverted from a virtue, the chaos of circumstance in Safe as Houses, demonstrates how perspectives can be skewed. True to the end, it is Aggie and Lucy in their innocence that have the last word: their understanding and friendship will out.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Yes, the script and film evolved over the course of development. We added a moment at the end to reinforce the two leading characters having a small moment of connection and innocence. We were working in the heart of a working-class community. We had neighbours and local kids involved as cast and extras throughout the shoot. Our opening shot was filmed slightly later to give a strong introduction to Aggie's world.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We have received incredible feedback at home and internationally. We won the Silver prize at the GwangHwaMun Film Festival and they said "It depicts the friendship and solidarity of the two through everyday perspective, not sympathy or impression. The Director, Mia Mullarkey sensitively captured the shape of the two who have not yet adapted themselves to the world. The little but shining time of the two portrayed in Safe as Houses is beautiful and sad."
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
No, we haven't received surprising or challenging feedback. It has been rewarding to see that the universal moments of comedy and poignancy transfer to different audiences across the world.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We want to build an audience for our film. We feel that we will find a strong audience through your publication. The Moving Stories website is a hub of diverse stories and talent. We would love to become part of your network.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We want an audience to see the film. To amplify the message, we are interested in hearing from sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors & journalists.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We would like the audience to walk away from the film and think about our lead character Aggie and the prejudices that she faces in the community.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Can the innocence and friendship of our two leads prevail in the face of a world full of prejudice?
Would you like to add anything else?
Our film will be screened at the Dublin International Film Festival and the Brussels Independent Film Festival in February. Please reach out if you would like to request a Press Screener for the film.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Our key creative team are now developing the world of the short film into a TV drama series.
Interview: January 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Safe as Houses
Aggie, a woman with Down Syndrome, offers shelter to a young girl when her home is not so welcoming.
Length: 16:12
Director: Mia Mullarkey
Producer: Claire Mc Cabe
Writer: Sarah Ahern
About the writer, director and producer:
MIA MULLARKEY’s short documentaries, including Mother & Baby and Throwline, have received awards from international festivals such as Aesthetica, Flickers’ Rhode Island, Galway Fleadh and São Paulo. In 2018 she received the Discovery Award from Dublin Film Critics’ Circle for her body of work and went on to direct a number of TV documentaries. Mia’s debut short drama The Passion was nominated for an IFTA in 2022, and Safe as Houses has its US premiere at Slamdance 2023. MIA is currently in development on a TV drama with Sleeper Films.
Following the success of her writing credit on Safe as Houses, SARAH AHERN has received funding for her next short film Night Glances a queer coming-of-age piece that she will write and direct. With her debut short as a director, Late Bloomers, due to be released this year. She works as a Production & Development Executive at Copper Alley Productions and holds an MA in Screenwriting from the National Film School at IADT. Sarah is a 2019 Warner Bros. Creative Talent alumni and a full member of the Writer’s Guild of Ireland. She is also on the screening team for Tribeca Film Festival’s shorts programme.
CLAIRE MC CABE is a producer based in Dublin. She is an alumnus of the Rotterdam Film Lab (2020) and IDFAcademy (2022). She has just completed co-producing a feature documentary for Sky and Screen Ireland, The Ghost of Richard Harris (2022), which had its World Premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September 2022. Claire has produced five short films; most recently, An Encounter (2021) has won five international accolades including the Academy Qualifying Grand Prix Award at the Cork International Film Festival. Her short film Don't Go Where I Can't Find You (2021) had its North American premiere at SXSW, its Canadian premiere at Fantasia Film Festival and has won four international prizes.
Key cast: Siobhan Loscher (Aggie), Nova Farrelly (Lucy), Jacinta Sheerin (Peggy), Ali Fox (Nicole), Terry O'Neill (Eddie)
Looking for: sales agents, journalists, distributors and film festival directors
Twitter: @SafeasHousesSF
Instagram: @safeashousesshortfilm
Hashtags used: #SafeAsHousesFilm #Neurodiversity #IrishFilm
Other: IMDb
Funders: Screen Ireland
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Slamdance Film Festival 2023/ Park City, USA
Dublin International Film Festival 2023/ Dublin, Ireland
Brussels Independent Film Festival 2023/ Brussels, Belgium