Previously unavailable, Maeve is a powerful take on feminism and nationalism, rich in debate and disruption, and an overlooked gem of 1980s independent film that's ripe for rediscovery. Watch a clip at the link above.
Newly remastered in 2K by the BFI, it is released on Blu-ray on 24 May in a Limited Edition. Extra features include a new video essay exploring the themes of Maeve and a 1996 documentary featuring major Irish film talent that asks why the most enduring images of Ireland have been made by foreign filmmakers.
Memories of a childhood shaped by sectarianism come to the fore as Maeve (Mary Jackson) returns to a Belfast still steeped in the politics of the Troubles.
Presenting a feminist alternative to the conventional narrative of the conflict, filmmakers Pat Murphy, John Davies and Robert Smith broke new ground in 1981 with their experimental approach, which challenges many of the formal qualities of mainstream cinema.
Among the extras is celebrated documentary Irish Cinema - Ourselves Alone? (1996, 51 mins): by Donald Taylor Black asking why the most enduring images of Ireland have been made by foreign filmmakers, and showing the struggle to create an Irish cinema. Featuring interviews with major figures including Neil Jordan, Bob Quinn, Jim Sheridan, Pat Murphy and Roddy Doyle.
