As La Syndicaliste continues its successful run across the access>CINEMA network, Galway Film Society hosted Maureen Kearney for a special reception and Q&A to coincide with their screening of the film that recounts the Irish woman’s extraordinary story.
La Syndicaliste stars French superstar Isabelle Huppert and explores Maureen’s experiences as a senior trade union representative-turned-whistleblower in a French nuclear power company. Her efforts to expose top-secret deals met with fierce resistance from powerful people. Her life was turned upside down when she was violently assaulted in her own home – made worse by police subsequently accusing her of faking the attack. She had no choice but to fight an arduous legal battle to clear her name.
Maureen visited Pálás Cinema for the opening night of Galway Film Society’s latest season, with the celebrated whistleblower on hand for an insightful Q&A after the film. Galway City Mayor Eddie Hoare and his partner Pam also attended the very special event.
You can find out more about Galway Film Society’s ongoing season via their website or social media pages. October’s line-up includes The Beasts, Other People’s Children, The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusamo and Rise.
La Syndicaliste is one of the most popular films of the Autumn / Winter season across the access>CINEMA network, with more than a dozen screenings between September 2023 and early 2024. It follows the film’s release this summer, which included a hugely successful five-week run at the Irish Film Institute. The film has already been screened at access>CINEMA network sites such as Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, Fermanagh Film Club and Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge.
The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon – Tuesday 10th October, 2023 – tickets
St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre, Listowel – Tuesday 10th October, 2023 – tickets
Sligo Film Society – Thursday 19th October, 2023 – tickets
Millbank Theatre, Rush – Tuesday 24th October, 2023 – tickets
The Source Arts Centre, Thurles – Wednesday 1st November, 2023 – tickets
Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire – Monday 13th November, 2023 – tickets
Club Scannán Sailearna, Indreabhán – Thursday 16th November, 2023 – tickets
Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny – Wednesday 22nd November, 2023 – tickets
Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee – Wednesday 10th January, 2024 – tickets
You can find out more about Maureen’s story in this Irish Times article, or you can listen back to her in-depth interview on RTE’s Brendan O’Connor Show.
Main image: Maureen Kearney (3rd from right) with members of the Galway Film Society committee and Galway City Mayor Eddie Hoare. Photos courtesy of Holly Buckley
The release of La Syndicaliste was made possible with the support of the Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA
