Verdigris – Film Review
by Frank L.

Director – Patricia Kelly
Writer – Patricia Kelly
Stars – Geraldine McAlinden, Maya O’Shea, Michael James Ford

Marian (Geraldine McAlinden) is a recently retired legal secretary living in the comfortable Glenageary suburb. She is married to Nigel (Michael James Ford), who dominates her life. They have no children. Their house is taken over by his all-consuming hobby of arranging his armies of model toy soldiers. There is little room in the house for Marian. It is all about Nigel. Marian decides to get a part-time job as a census enumerator to earn a little pin money and perhaps give her and Nigel an extra holiday. He is dismissive of the idea. However, she persuades the authorities to give her an area distant from her home in the inner city. She finds out rapidly that it is a different world, and she is met with open hostility when she tries to deliver the census forms.

However, she persists and encounters Jewel (Maya O’Shea), who is very much of the area and makes her money on the game. Jewel, too, is initially openly hostile, but she can see an opportunity to cut a deal with Marian, and they do. Jewel will help Marian in distributing the census forms.   Gradually, their relationship evolves into a friendship. It becomes apparent that the lives of these two women of different ages and backgrounds have a similarity in that, in Marian’s case, she is dominated directly by one man, while Jewel is reliant on the whims of many random men. As the friendship develops, Marian gets glimpses of Jewel’s life, which troubles her, but more importantly, she becomes a little more assertive with Nigel as she tries to create a space for herself.

Director Patricia Kelly, who also wrote the script, brings together two ways in which women survive in relationships with men in which their independence is compromised by one man in Marian’s case or many men in Jewel’s case. Marian learns a great deal from Jewel, and the title of the film comes from a slinky verdigris dress which Jewel persuades Marian to wear so that she can take a picture of her. It gives Marian a little more confidence. However, verdigris is also a substance which occurs naturally as a compound of copper. It is toxic.

In finding Maya O’Shea to play the role of Jewel, Kelly has unearthed a young actor of potential. She demonstrates an uncanny poise throughout.

This is a low-budget film, and it therefore has its limitations, but it is serious and has heart. It has married together into one narrative the lives of two women of diverse ages and backgrounds to create a relationship which is of value to both of them. It shows what can be achieved with enquiring thought and a determination to be heard. The title of the film is evidence of the serious thought that has gone into its creation.