Transition Year Film

Tommy Frank O'Connor

"Like millions of flies... like millions of tiny smells".

This is a line from "Are We Bothered?" a short film on the subject of child labour. It refers to the millions of children all over the world, as numerous as flies, doing back-breaking work for long hours in conditions that are stinking and unbearably hot (or cold).

In the film, a dramatised piece, the children are crouched on the floor, hands working frantically as they weave carpets. Their boss enters periodically, shouting at them and beating them. When he is gone they talk together about their desperate situation. The dialogue is rich and poetic. This accents the fact that each child is an intelligent, thoughtful individual with his or her own independent spirit.

"Are We Bothered?" is a product of the combined talents of Tralee poet Tommy Frank O'Connor and 26 Transition Year students from Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School. Tommy Frank is a poet with the Poetry Ireland Writing in Schools programme.

"Of all the writing styles poetry seems to be the most popular with the students," Frank says.

I asked him where the idea to work on the subject of child labour came from and had the students done much research for the project.

"Every year a special topic is chosen for the Writing in Schools programme and this year's topic was child labour. When the 26 students, chosen by Transition Year coordinator Sean Coffey, and I came together Larry O'Loughlan, administrator of the programme, visited us. We encouraged the students to do their own research for themselves, through various websites, so that they would engage more with the topic."

Tommy Frank then guided the students in visualising the plight and imagining the emotions of the children and they created a poetic drama as a result. Because the standard of the drama was so good Tommy Frank then suggested that they adapt it for film. Teacher Ronan Redican was recruited as camera man.

"Are We Bothered?" will be used as an educational resource by both Concern and KADE. The experience has naturally proved to be very worthwhile for the students. Many had also been involved in Tralee’s Fairtrade Association and so they are now combining awareness of world affairs with creativity.

Mercy Mounthawk Transition Year is noted for its emphasis on film. Their 2006 short film "A Child of Our Time", a documentary about the asylum process, was made as part of Amnesty International's Voice Our Concern initiative. It was shot under the guidance of director Terry George (Hotel Rwanda) and was screened at the 2006 Cork Film Festival. Full marks to Mercy Mounthawk Transition Year.