Private Project

The Girl from Fedamore

An experimental Gaelic Gothic film musical set in 1920s rural Ireland. Loosely based on real events, a young woman murders her husband with the help of her lover, his nephew. The film explores her inner world leading up to and after the murder, culminating with both of their executions. She remains the only woman to be executed in Independent Ireland.

  • Matthew Rockett
    Director
  • Matthew Rockett
    Writer
  • Matthew Rockett
    Producer
  • Bláithín Seville
    Producer
  • Bláithín Seville
    Key Cast
    "Annie"
  • Alex Mulcahy
    Key Cast
    "Ned"
  • Joseph Byrne
    Key Cast
    "Michael"
  • Matthew Rockett
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Musical, Historical, Gothic, Irish
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland
  • Language:
    English, Irish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Matthew Rockett

Matthew Rockett is a writer, director, composer and producer from Ireland. Matthew, who recently completed an MFA in Music for Motion Pictures and Contemporary Media at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe in Sofia, Bulgaria, having previously majored in Contemporary Classical Composition in TUDublin, is fascinated not only by the world of music and composition but also by its relationship to picture and how image and sound can productively work together to unlock new perspectives and innovative ways of storytelling. While his training and education in music performance and composition, as well as acting and stagecraft, began at six years old, The Girl from Fedamore (2024) is his debut short.

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Director Statement

The film and the music that lives within it are intrinsically linked. A somewhat experimental venture, my motivation for the film was to redefine the film musical and create what might be called a pseudo-minimalist film musical. Though not an official term, I am defining the minimalist film musical as a stripped-down or understated version of the staged and/or film musical, one which deliberately challenges and subverts many of the (traditional) musical's representational codes while reinvigorating, foregrounding and inventing others.

Key elements in this new sub-genre, of which The Girl from Fedamore is an example, include (i) exploration of dark and gritty topics with a touch of realism, yet still allowing for a magical or subjective reality to emerge; (ii) a pared-back narrative with the opportunity (but not necessity) for the refusal of the dramatic three-act structure with its important climax; (iii) reduced use of language and dialogue; (iv) rejection of the proscenium arch; (v) sparse lighting and minimal props; (vi) use of real locations; (vii) small cast, including actors potentially playing more than one character; and (viii) pared-down music and minimal instrumentation and reduction of tonal palette.

The opportunity to be actively involved in so many aspects of the production, from scripting to directing, from shooting on my iPhone to editing, and from composing the score to sound design, while at times challenging, allowed me to have full control over the project and artistic vision. That said, the project would not have been possible without the help of many, not least my family but especially the cast, with the lead actor also in the role of co-producer.