Testimony
Synopsis
TESTIMONY is a powerful documentary revealing the harrowing truth behind Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries and Mother and Baby Homes, where over 10,000 women and girls were confined between 1922 and 1996. Unmarried mothers, children of unmarried mothers, survivors of abuse, or those deemed “promiscuous” or burdensome were imprisoned, their lives shrouded in secrecy and shame.
The film chronicles the extraordinary efforts of Justice For Magdalenes, a small group of women lawyers, academics, and volunteers who fought tirelessly for recognition and justice for survivors. Their battle extended from the steps of the Irish parliament to the High Court and the United Nations. Alongside legal victories, the group spearheaded vital initiatives to preserve survivors' stories and ensure the atrocities they endured are never forgotten.
Through moving testimonies from survivors like Philomena Lee, Elizabeth Coppin, and Mary Harney, the documentary exposes the devastating impact of these institutions while showcasing the survivors’ resilience and the ongoing fight for accountability.
A story of resistance, hope, and the unwavering pursuit of justice, reminding us that the past must never be erased.
Details
- Year
- 2025
- Type of film
- Features
- Running time
- 105 min
- Format
- Digital
- Director
-
Aoife Kelleher
- Producer
- Rachel Lysaght, Farah Abushwesha
- Editor
- Emer Reynolds
- Director of Photography
- Eleanor Bowman, Linda Hall, Ruairi O'Brien, Robbie Ryan, Michael Lavelle
- Composer
- Tom Hodge
- Principal cast
- With contributions from: Philomena Lee, Imelda Staunton, Elizabeth Coppin, Mary Harney
Genre
Categories
Production Status
Production Company
Rocliffe Productions
12 Barnston WalkLondon
N1 8QP
Page updates
This page was last updated on 23rd June 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.
See also
You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.
Spacewoman
Director: Hannah Berryman
Year: 2024
A landmark feature documentary about astronaut Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and command the Space Shuttle.<br /> Eileen’s incredible journey starts with her smalltown beginnings, sees her smash through many glass ceilings, and culminates in four dramatic space shuttle missions, the last being possibly the most dangerous and most important of them all.<br /> At its heart the film is the moving human drama of one family, where a mother’s extraordinary career takes us straight to the big philosophical question of what is the level of acceptable risk in human endeavour? <br /> This film celebrates Commander Collins’ trailblazing NASA career which opened the way for women to become spacecraft pilots and commanders, and proved a perfect riposte to a previous generation of male astronauts who thought there was no place for women to lead the way in space. <br /> Official Selection DOC NYC 2024 - World premiere<br /> Official Selection CPH:DOX 2025 - European premiere
64 Days: The Insurrection Playbook
Director: Nick Quested
Year: 2025
Documenting the January 6 assault on the US Capitol - Filmmaker Nick Quested was embedded with the Proud Boys, and other far-right groups during the months leading up to the insurrection, capturing exclusive footage of figures including Enrique Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes that was used as evidence in hearings of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, and as part of their larger investigation.
