170. Irene's Ghost; movie review

IRENE'S GHOST
Cert PG
81 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild bad language and reference to mental illness

Irene Cunningham died in what was Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry. So did two of my grandparents and Mrs W's sister.
On the plus side, both of our children were born there.
Anyway, the investment of Mrs W and me in Irene's Ghost was high because it sparked memories of the past and even our youth.
Irene and her husband Duncan were from Nuneaton where many of Mrs W's family now live and they met at Tiffany's nightclub which was a regular haunt.
Iain Cunningham has only recently learned about his biological mother's past because she died when he was a toddler.
His curiosity about her has gnawed away because hardly anyone spoke about her after his dad remarried.
Therefore, his very personal documentary sees him delving into the past and meeting her friends and family who were previously unknown to him.
Some might believe that his story is too individual and that Irene's Ghost is little more than a home movie.
I would disagree. It prompts nostalgia for anyone who grew up in the 60s and 70s and empathy for children who lose a parent when young.
The people in Irene's Ghost resonate because they are real. They have suffered loss and have handled it in various different ways.
Iain Cunningham's method of catharsis, more than 40 years after his "mummy went to heaven" is to make a film.
I admire him for having done so and helping us all to reflect on what family means.

Reasons to watch: A very personal family story
Reasons to avoid: Some may find it too insular

Laughs: Two
Jumsp: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 6.5/10

Did you know? According to the Office Of National Statistics, around 7,000 children every year in England and Wales could experience maternal bereavement by the age of 16.

The final word. Iain Cunningham: "The story of the film has been inside me for a long time – I’ve carried it around since I was a kid. I always wanted to give a voice or some sort of poetry to my mum, because it was something I felt she hadn’t had.I don’t think that’s necessarily the truth of what I ended up finding but that’s certainly how it felt to me as a child." The Book Of Man

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