Public discourse around abortion has thankfully increased in Ireland, due to the galvanising Repeal The Eighth movement. However, the representation of abortion in Irish cinema remains practically non-existent. Tom Ryan’s indie drama Twice Shy seeks to rectify that, addressing the issue in a subtle and engaging fashion.
Shane Murray-Corcoran and Iseult Casey play Andy and Maggie, a young couple from Tipperary both moving to Dublin for college. The film spans several years, and the two lead actors perfectly capture the changes that occur in late adolescence and early adulthood. As they shift from nervous teens focused on their debs, to an established couple grappling with questions about their future, small mannerisms highlight this time of personal growth and transition.
Ryan’s screenplay weaves an intimate portrait of Maggie and Andy’s lives, both as a couple and individuals. Casey’s Maggie is capable and funny, and occasionally exasperated by Andy’s emotional distance – though she’s unaware of his troubled homelife.
His father Brendan (a wonderfully tender Ardal O’Hanlon) suffers from depression, an issue shrouded in as much shame and stigma as abortion. The enforced silence around mental health issues weighs on father and son, just as the silence around abortion ultimately weighs on Maggie. As all characters find comfort only when they reach out to each other, the film makes a quietly heartwrenching call for empathy.
Twice Shy is also a portrait of Ireland. Stunning Tipperary vistas, sparkling Dublin nightscapes and a gorgeous soundtrack filled with Irish artists illustrate the beauty and wonder possible in this country. But Maggie’s long and needlessly stressful journey to London demonstrates how this island’s laws can imprison women looking for autonomy.
Warm, emotional and never didactic, Twice Shy is a beautiful film that urges us all to do better, for each other.