The world’s first narrative short film in Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) and Irish (Gaeilge) has been recognised internationally at film festivals in Ireland, the UK, and North America. Le Chéile has been shortlisted for six festivals, including Toronto Irish Film Festival where it will premiere on the 24th March, 2024.
Le Chéile (Together), created by Gaelic and Irish speaker Róise Nic an Bheatha, is a 12-minute drama following a Scottish Rangers football team supporter and an Irish Celtic football team supporter as they find common ground on a bus ride home through their ability to speak similar languages (Irish and Scottish Gaelic). The film explores how language has the potential to overcome significant cultural boundaries such as the Glasgow “Old Firm” tension, compounded by the historical Protestant/Catholic divide.
The short film is Róise’s directorial debut and was shot in Glasgow in 2022 with an all-female crew. The two main characters are played by Belfast actor and TikTok star Sean McConville and Edinburgh actor and Gaelic-speaker Daibhidh Moireasdan.
Le Chéile, Writer and Director, Róise Nic an Bheatha said:
“It’s brilliant seeing the film get national and international recognition. I’ve believed in the project for a long time but it’s taken a while to get it off the ground – particularly as the film was made on a small budget with minimal industry support. Interestingly, there has been a big response from Irish Film Festivals, despite the film being what I would consider a Scottish story. The Irish language aspect really appeals to audiences, especially off the back of successes like An Cailín Ciúin (Colm Bairéad). The quieter response in Scotland might hint at a lack of opportunity to celebrate Celtic languages within the Scottish film festival scene – evidenced by a lack of dedicated Gaelic language film categories.
As an Irish and Gaelic speaker, the film’s sentiment was inspired by my own experience of living and studying in Glasgow, Derry, and Edinburgh, and growing up speaking both languages. Language can sometimes be seen as divisive – particularly in the North of Ireland – but I’ve always seen it as a means of bringing people together. Moving to Scotland and observing the similarities and differences between Gaelic and Irish has only solidified this idea. The film title Le Chéile (which means ‘Together’) reflects this sentiment, complimented by the fact that the word is the same in both Irish and Gaelic. I’m really looking forward to bringing audiences le chéile in the upcoming months to view my film.”
Le Chéile, Actor, Sean McConville:
“This is the first Irish language project I have been a part of and I loved the challenge of acting in Irish. I think the film highlights the Protestant/Catholic divide in a really unique way using the medium of language to explore our similarities and differences.
Growing up in Belfast I have always heard Gaelige around me but I’ve never had an opportunity to learn it properly. I was a little bit daunted by the idea of doing a whole film in Irish at first but also felt excited to try something new and have a new string to my acting bow. I think there is a lot of scope for more Irish language films in general and, especially with films like KNEECAP coming out, it seems like people all over the world are getting more interested in the Irish language. I would love to work on more projects like this in the future.”
Le Chéile, Actor, Daibhidh Moireasdan:
“Although raised in urban Lowland Scotland, I am someone who feels strongly tied to the Gaelic cultures of both the Highlands (with my father being from the Isle of Lewis) and Ireland (with my mother being from County Mayo). I am also far from unique in sharing this particular mix of heritage, and it was my fascination with the complex and often strained relationships between these peoples, and the important shared histories of these two countries, that first drew me to this project. On top of this, the chance to speak Gaelic, our wee language on the big screen, and to appear in the first dual-language Irish and Scottish Gaelic narrative short was too great an opportunity to pass up.
As a life-long football fan, I have also unfortunately witnessed first-hand the sectarianism and violence that continues to impact the sport in Scotland, as well as the effects it can have on individuals and communities: another key theme that this film touches upon.
From the moment we began work, right up to the final cut, this project has been an absolute joy to be a part of. I had the opportunity to work with some fantastically talented and knowledgeable individuals, including the wonderful Róise Nic an Bheatha and Sean McConville. I am tremendously proud of what we were able to accomplish here, and would thoroughly recommend this unique and honest film to anyone who shares my interest in Scottish and Irish culture, as well as to those simply on the lookout for a charming tale of unlikely friendship.”
Following the screening of Le Chéile at festivals, the short film will be toured around communities in both Scotland and Ireland. The trailer is available to view here.
