Under Pressure: interview with ‘Twice Shy’ director Tom Ryan

I spoke to award-winning director Tom Ryan ahead of the release of his latest independent film, Twice Shy. The film is about a young couple, Andy and Maggie, and their relationship as they move from Tipperary to Dublin for university. Their relationship goes through ups and downs but the biggest strain is that of an unplanned pregnancy. Twice Shy provides a realistic portrayal of the experience of abortion for many women in contemporary Ireland. The pair must travel to London so that Maggie can access an abortion clinic. The film contains flashbacks during this difficult trip to the romantic one Maggie and Andy took months previously, when their relationship was stronger and their situation much easier.

What inspired the idea for this film? Was the end result as you anticipated?

I always wanted to tell a love story and by putting the relationship under pressure from an unplanned pregnancy it seemed like a very interesting way for me to also explore the topic of abortion. This topic is very important to me and it’s something that I wanted to portray on film as it’s a story that needs to be told and hopefully we can present it in a compassionate light. The script went through many drafts and was worked out through rehearsals with the cast in order to get the tone and the balance of it right. The end result is very close to our original intent.

What difficulties did you have to overcome in making the film?

The main difficulty of making a movie like this was getting the tone and the balance right. When dealing with a subject as divisive as abortion it was very important to make sure that we were portraying it in a sensitive and non-judgmental manner. The concern is that if we came down on one side over the other or if we let our own personal opinions enter the script then the movie may come across as a statement rather than an observation.

How did you ensure Twice Shy would be as authentic as possible?

The authenticity of the film is all down to the performances that the actors give, namely Shane [Murray-Corcoran] and Iseult [Casey]. They had an instant chemistry in their audition that translated incredibly well to camera. All of the actors come across very natural and real in the movie which creates an authentic tone and mirrors contemporary Ireland in a way that helps the audience get more involved in the story.

Twice Shy explores commonplace themes and events that are, however, rarely shown in film- abortion and depression. Why did you decide to make a film that showed these realities?

With Twice Shy I wanted to examine social issues which are important to me and that lent themselves to giving the romance between Maggie and Andy dramatic weight and high stakes. Abortion and depression are two huge issues in the Irish zeitgeist and I thought that through this story I could hopefully do them justice by presenting them in a relatable way. All too often these issues are mentioned in either hushed tones or as part of a debate so we had a responsibility to present them in a balanced light.

With huge advancements in mental health awareness and increased popularity surrounding the ‘Repeal the 8th’ movement in Ireland, why do you think directors and producers are still often wary of realistically portraying abortion and depression in film?

I can’t speak on behalf of other producers and directors but the issues can be seen as very controversial so I can understand how it might be risky for some to want to portray it in film. I was very fortunate in that I had a cast and crew who all shared the same view as myself on the issues and all agreed that this was a story that needed to be told. Especially now with the climate around the topic of abortion and depression being what it is. It was never our intention to make a film that was an obvious commentary on abortion, but I hope that Twice Shy encourages people to start a more balanced conversation about the subject.

 

Maggie and Andy both struggle as a result of stigma and taboos in Irish society. Andy isolates himself from those closest to him by hiding the reason for his return to Tipperary and his father’s mental illness. Maggie can’t even manage to confide in her sister about her unplanned pregnancy. I felt your film tactfully critiqued Irish society, was that something you set out to do?

It was very important for these characters to struggle with wanting to be open and honest with their loved ones. It takes a lot of courage to come out to those closest to you and open up about personal difficulties. It’s not always easy to do so. People are becoming more vocal which is fantastic and there is more that we can be doing to improve things further when it comes to speaking out depression and abortion but these things will take time to change and if Twice Shy can allow for conversations to take place then all the better.

Are you happy with the reception of Twice Shy so far? Any plans for your next projects you would like to share?

I’ve been very pleasantly surprised with the great reception Twice Shy has received so far both domestically and internationally. It’s been wonderful to see such an intimate character driven indie movie connect with audiences. I’m currently working on the script for my next feature film which will be different to Twice Shy, but hopefully every bit as successful. ■

Twice Shy will be released in cinemas 23 June 2017.

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