Synopsis

 

‘Imprints' is a short documentary which explores the passing of time and memories. Mary Boyle recalls memories of her late husband Denis and the moments they shared together. As she tells us what she remembers, we move through a realm of cine footage captured by Denis during the late 1950s and early 1960s in Ireland, The Congo, Spain and France. The memories that Mary shares are imprinted on us as she tells her story. Life through the lens of Denis is imprinted onto cine reels. And finally as Denis’ films are projected and imprinted on the walls and moulds of their former home, the couple are transported back to the present day creating one last shared moment in time.

 

Imprint: an occasion when an event or experience becomes fixed in someone's memory or leaves its mark in some way on their appearance: an occasion when an object presses on something and leaves a mark: to mark a surface by pressing something into it, or to fix something firmly in the memory. (Definition of “imprint” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

 

Artist’s Statement

 

The motive to create this short documentary was clear once I had digitised my Uncle Denis’ films. Beautifully framed shots from another era told a story of love, war and life during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He had passed by the time the reels were digitised and my Aunty Mary told us all she could remember. That of which she couldn’t recall or didn’t know are evoked in the cine footage. The reconstruction of Aunty Mary’s memories were obscure, some details were crystal clear while others were lost to an abyss.

 

It was important to honour my Uncle Denis and Aunty Mary who so rarely had their lives captured on super8 in the late 1950s and early 1960s. And this, done in an abstract way, would represent the importance of memories and how they are manifested. It is ultimately a celebration of their life as they host us for one last screening in their home.

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Directed and Created by Cathy Dunne

Director of Photography Denis Boyle & Cathy Dunne

Produced by Maggie Ryan & Cathy Dunne

Original Soundtrack by Liam McCabe

Interview by Daragh Wallace

Starring Mary & Denis Boyle

Voice-over Mary Wallace

Graphic Titles by Louise Kiernan

Thanks to David Dunne

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Film and Art Festival Selections 2021

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Irish Premiere at Kerry International Film Festival, Paris Lift-Off Film Festival,

Dublin International Film Festival, Catalyst International Film Festival, Deep Focus Film Festival, Waterford International Film Festival, IndieCork Film Festival, Carlow Arts Festival

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