Maeve (1981)

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Memories of a childhood shaped by the spectre of sectarianism come to the fore, as Maeve (Mary Jackson) returns as an adult to a Belfast still steeped in the politics of The Troubles. Presenting a feminist alternative to the conventional narrative of the conflict, filmmakers Pat Murphy and John Davies broke new ground with their experimental approach, which challenges many of the formal qualities of mainstream cinema. Previously unavailable on Blu-ray, Maeve is a powerful take on the issues of feminism and nationalism, a film rich in debate and disruption and an overlooked gem of 1980s independent film, ripe for rediscovery.