This film is loosely inspired by Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", where ghostly happenings arise to aid the protagonist in contending with an ambivalent past and uncertain future during a difficult and pivotal moment of the present.I wanted to explore intergenerational obligations, personal failure, and the immortal bond that can exist between parents and their adult children, particularly in an Irish context and in a narrative setting. The Irish pub, being a site of celebration and depression, and the relationships and futures that live and die through the inheritance of family responsibilities, such as a family business or traditional occupation, embody the best and worst of Irish identity. The loss of the archetypal pub to time embodies, celebrates, and mourns this modern identity in transition, and Mag, the protagonist, represents those left isolated by such circumstances through her reaction to the closure of her family pub.In my life, I have seen the Irish tradition of misery surrounding unwanted obligations that inheriting expected intergenerational roles can bring. My hope is that by framing this story as a moment of release for a soul isolated by her past promises, made before she could understand adult responsibility, others can resonate and contend with their situations with self-compassion.The film's rendering style reflects the lavish ink illustrations found in old Victorian novels. I have always had a fascination with pen and ink, and it is frequently my medium of choice in my cartoonist work, alongside influencing my animation.I am extremely grateful to those who were also involved in the project: Dean Carey, Jess Bertrand, and Éamonn Kent (my father) for their voice acting, and to groups Romie and The Fógues for their generous permission to feature their songs "An Die Nacht" and "Long Nights in Pokey Places", respectively. As I've mentioned before, these pieces are the musical soulmates of this film.
