The Christening

To secure a future without a child, Ailbhe must make a very adult decision. Having a secret abortion in London is by necessity, an act of self-expression and self-censorship rolled into one. Because abortion is illegal in Ireland, thousands of Irish women embark on secret journeys every year. The impact of these journeys is rarely discussed. Despite female emancipation, Irish society remains ambivalent on the subject. Ailbhe feels part of a new web savvy generation. She reckons she can organize it all. But finding her way through London is harder than she thinks... For cast and crew please see IMDB.

Short Film

13 minutes

To secure a future without a child, AILBHE must make a very adult decision. For AILBHE, having a secret abortion in London is an act of self-expression and self-censorship rolled into one. AILBHE feels part of a new web savvy generation. She reckons she can organise it all. But finding her way through London is harder than she thinks.

THE CHRISTENING was made when abortion in Ireland was still illegal and thousands of Irish women embarked on secret journeys every year. In 2010, the impact of these journeys was barely discussed. Despite female emancipation, Irish society remained deeply ambivalent on the subject.

The film enjoyed a second life in the run-up to the referendum on the 8th Amendment as part of the Artists’ Campaign To Repeal the Eighth .

Written and directed by Oonagh Kearney.

Produced by Rachel Lysaght for Underground Films, 2010.

Funded by the Irish Film Board Signatures Short Film Scheme.

Please see IMDB for full cast and crew.

NOMINATED

Best Drama, Fastnet Film Festival, Cork, 2011