Private Project

A Moth is not a kind of Butterfly

'Reanna' (Lea Maas), a socially isolated autistic woman lives alone as a hoarder. She earns a meagre wage working is a yard operator in a run down warehouse, for a demanding boss ('Ronan O'Leary'). After an impromptu hookup with a charismatic stranger 'Richard' (Patrick Caroline), Reanna is ghosted. She becomes fixated - imagining Richard speaking to her and the relationship they might have had. Finally Reanna is forced to confront her own isolation and disappointment when she realises their relationship has been a delusion.

  • Gareth Stack
    Director
  • Gareth Stack
    Writer
  • Leah Maas
    Key Cast
    "Reanna"
  • Patrick Caroline
    Key Cast
    "Richard"
  • Ronan O'Leary
    Key Cast
    "Mulligan"
  • M Shutak
    Music
  • Gregory Dunn
    Sound
  • Valeria Patarushina
    AD
  • Peter Demidov
    AC
  • Owen Behan
    DOP
  • Ciara Costello
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Romance, Horror, Supernatural, Social Realism
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2026
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Gareth Stack

Gareth Stack is a writer, filmmaker and radio producer based in Dublin. He is the creator of numerous drama and doc series for Irish national radio. His publications include Hobart, Albedo One, Cassandra Voices, and Analogue Music Magazine. His work has been staged as part of the New Irish Playbook and Scene + Heard festivals. His debut feature documentary ‘Sightless Cinema’ screened last year on RTE One. His collaboration with musician and sound artist Ed Devane 'What is Lost Can Never Be Found' was debuted by VAI as part of the Irish Artists Film Index screening programme in 2024.

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Director Statement

The film was inspired by the rejection sensitivity experienced by many neurodiverse people. Rejection sensitivity and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria are conditions of overwhelming emotional pain and dysregulation in response to romantic loss or rejection. These experiences are beyond the scope of ordinary 'heartbreak', and can be debilitating and destabalising emotionally and psychologically. This film is rooted in the directors own experiences dealing with love and loss as an ADHD person. And on the experiences of others encountered through support groups and fellowships like LSAA.