Project Detail

The Welfare of Tomás Ó Hallissy

Synopsis

Originating with research undertaken at the Irish Film Institute Irish Film Archive, artist Duncan Campbell’s piece takes as a starting point a 1960s anthropological film study of rural Kerry to investigate and reframe contemporary Ireland.
In this work Campbell looks at some of the assumptions, ethics and misconceptions that frame the relationship between filmmakers and subjects. The piece is underpinned by extensive research into archival and documentary material, including Paul Hockings and Mark McCarty’s 1968 documentary film, 'The Village', alongside influential anthropological studies. As with much of Campbell’s work, this piece questions the validity of documentary form as historical representation, blurring fact and fiction, recording and interpretation.
Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2017 - Experimenta Strand

Details

Year
2016
Type of project
Shorts
Running time
31 mins
Director
Duncan Campbell
Producer
Patrick Campbell
Commissioned by
IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art), with co-commissioners Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven and Western Front, Canada.

Production Status

Production Company

Nakba FilmWorks

Patrick Campbell
No. 4, 450 Kingsland Road
London
E8 4AE

Sales Company

LUX

Matt Carter
Waterlow Park Centre
Dartmouth Park Hill
London
N19 5JF

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 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.

It For Others It For Others

Director: Duncan Campbell

Year: 2013

Reflections on the life, death and value of objects inspired by Chris Marker and Alain Resnais' 1953 essay film 'Les Statues Meurent Aussi.' ‘It for others’ includes a performance made in collaboration with Michael Clark Company that seeks to illustrate the basic principle of commodities and their exchange.

A woman BFI Partner Funded Short Film

Director: Sarah Lutton

Year: 2026

BFI Partner Funded Short Film

The Archivist The Archivist

Director: Rob Curry, Tim Plester

Year: 2026

In a battle against time and technology, can Britain's greatest living folklorist find a home for his vast archive of irreplaceable audiovisual material?