A Silent War - The Town That Cured Loneliness (B.S.L.)

Back

Details

Location

Belfast, University of Atypical

Year

2021

Date

Length

03min 11sec

Audio

silent

Format

Digital

colour

Source

Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive

Courtesy

Hands That Sign, Paula Clarke, Ross Thompson

Rights Holder

Northern Ireland Screen, Ross Thompson

It is illegal to download, copy, print or otherwise utilise in any other form this material, without written consent from the copyright holder.

Description

The Town That Cured Loneliness by Ross Thompson, written in Bangor during 2020 Lockdown  

A modern curse,
                  a deep-seated disease, 

a killer as insidious
                  as cirrhosis 
                  or crippling debt 
                  or drinking alone, 

anchored in a human need 
                  for the comfort 
                  and warmth 
                  of skin brushing skin 

nearly destroyed a town of goodly folk 
                  hiding behind 
                  closed doors, 
                  drawn curtains 
                  and raised fences, 

defending their property
                  with a moat of indifference, 
                        a portcullis of ignorance, 
                              a trebuchet of inwardness 

until one brave soldier besieged and broke down
                  these ramparts and battlements 
                  with the simple mantra: 

be kind, be kind and above all else, be kind.

Credits

The Town That Cured Loneliness by Ross Thompson
BSL translation and performance by Paula Clarke
Filmed in University of Atypical by Stuart Calvin
A Silent War Creative Producers: Sinéad Bhreathnach-Cashell & Ann Donnelly
Funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen

Links

×

Please scroll to review and accept our terms and conditions (last updated on ) before viewing the moving images content.

To remember your terms and conditions acceptance, you can register as a site member or allow cookies on your browser.