Silent Grace

A humane and compelling story based on the experience of the women prisoners in Armagh Prison during the 1980 Hunger Strike and Dirty Protest. It is a touching story of friendship and survival, Aine (Cara Seymour) a young joy rider is thrown into the same cell as Eileen (Orla Brady), a high ranking Republican woman leader. At first at odds, Eileen helps save Aine’s sanity and when Eileen goes on hunger strike, Aine risks all to support Eileen’s life.

The film reclaims the over-looked and undervalued story of women prisoners’ significant involvement in the Hunger Strike campaign. Director, Maeve Murphy is even-handed in her approach to the complex political situation while Orla Brady’s central performance is deeply moving.

With its profoundly humanist agenda, Silent Grace has been lauded internationally, was nominated for the Conflict and Resolution Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival USA in association with the Nobel Peace Laureates Peace Foundation and was chosen as UK entry for the Un Certain Regard strand at Cannes 2002.