A CHRISTMAS GIFT

Rafaela, a Brazilian woman living in Ireland, enjoys a lovely date with her new work colleague Liam, but on her way home she attracts the attention of a sinister stranger, which leads to an unexpected Christmas gift for one of them.

  • Fiona Ashe
    Director
    Beneath The Surface, Shades of Gray, Rapunzel: The Blonde Years, A Sister's Tragedy, Treacherous Cellmates, Look My Way, I Love You Suzie.
  • Fiona Ashe
    Writer
    Cracks In The Ice (Nicholl Quarterfinalist), Beneath The Surface, Shades of Gray, A Sister's Tragedy, Treacherous Cellmates, Look My Way.
  • Fiona Ashe
    Producer
    Beneath The Surface, Shades of Gray, Rapunzel: The Blonde Years, A Sister's Tragedy, Treacherous Cellmates, Through Our Eyes, Look My Way.
  • Olivia Romao
    Key Cast
    "Rafaela"
  • Will Jordan
    Key Cast
    "Vinny"
  • Shane Robinson
    Key Cast
    "Liam"
  • Mauro Sulcis
    Stunt Coordinator
  • Colm Sexton
    Cinematographer
  • Fiona Ashe
    Editor
    Beneath The Surface, Shades of Gray, Rapunzel: The Blonde Years, A Sister's Tragedy, Treacherous Cellmates, Look My Way.
  • Fiona Ashe
    Sound Designer
    Beneath The Surface, Shades of Gray, Rapunzel: The Blonde Years, A Sister's Tragedy, Treacherous Cellmates, Look My Way.
  • Alessandro Loro
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 37 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 20, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Fiona Ashe

Fiona Ashe is an Irish award-winning Film Director and Screenwriter. In 2016, with her blood diamond script 'Cracks In The Ice', she was a Quarterfinalist in the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She holds a Diploma in Advanced Film Directing from the New York Film Academy and is a graduate of the ProSeries Professional Screenwriting Program (LA). She also studied screenwriting under the tuition of Robert Towne ('Chinatown') and Paul Schrader ('Taxi Driver') as well studying visual structure taught by Bruce A. Block (co-producer, 'What Women Want'). At the Berlin Film Festival, she attended directing masterclasses taught by Wim Wenders, Anthony Minghella, Mike Figgis, Stephen Frears and Spike Lee. Fiona studied TV Drama Directing under the tuition of Lesli Linka Glatter ('Homeland') and Bethany Rooney ('Law & Order'). Her short film, 'Shades of Gray', a Film Noir shot in New York, won the Best Film Noir Award at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in 2003 and was endorsed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jim Sheridan as "very well directed". Her 2008 short film 'Rapunzel: The Blonde Years' became a viral hit on the Irish Film Board's Virtual Cinema YouTube channel with 736,000 views. In 2023 Fiona was a finalist in the Virgin Media Discovers short film competition and was selected for the National Talent Academies' Directors' Lab.

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Director Statement

This is so much more than a Christmas film. It's about one of the most topical social issues in the world today: violence against women. I am confident that audiences will find it fulfilling watch at any time of year.

In the film, Rafaela’s evening starts with a lovely date…but quickly the joy of Christmas is replaced by a sinister twist, and thus begins a thriller ride for viewers.

I specialize in social issue films. I chose to write and direct this film because the MeToo movement illustrated how prevalent violence against women is in the world, and I wanted to explore a unique angle on that. I was determined to show the kick-ass side of Rafaela, as well as her vulnerability. I also love directing stunts, so I was very keen to direct an action movie.

The film is so short that viewers don’t get to find out who Rafaela really is and why she was headhunted by the Irish police to help them to catch violent criminals. So, the theme song tells that story. It’s a gritty, gutteral original composition that gives a feel for the danger that Rafaela encountered day in, day out in South America taking down druglords and gangland criminals — the bass riff captures that down-and-dirty underworld! Her wailing on background vocals gives voice to the trauma she experienced as she risked her life to bring ruthless criminals to justice. The end title design of blood spatters underscores the message of the song.

So, a film that starts with the “warm and fuzzies” delves deep into the dark side of the human spirit, then loops back to the love story to deliver a satisfying ending.