This powerful short opens on a shot of a beautiful stained-glass window. Protagonist Saoirse (Lisa O’Connor, who also serves as screenwriter) seamlessly moves from that one community pillar – the church – to another – the pub, Only briefly pausing to contemplate an anti-abortion poster.
Director Louisa Connolly-Burnham sets her intentions from the first moments of Fleeting showing deft skill. She weaves a tale of a modern heroine in a modern Ireland, albeit suffering from historically familiar frustrations. O’Connor breathes life into Saoirse with every smirk and eye-brow raise, as Fleeting pads thorny discussions with light humour.
Connolly-Burnham has a real feel for the Irish culture, managing to explore everything from voting records and Gaelic football to the strains of being part of a large Catholic family. With a fantastic supporting cast, Fleeting builds to a wry and poignant conclusion. One to make you think.
