Fairytale of Kathmandu
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| Fairytale of Kathmandu | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Neasa Ní Chianáin |
| Produced by | David Rane |
| Narrated by | Neasa Ní Chianáin |
| Music by | Arnaud Ruest |
| Cinematography | Tristan Monbureau |
| Editing by | Úna Ní Dhongháile Declan McGrath |
| Release date(s) | 21 November 2007 |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Country | Ireland Nepal |
| Language | English Irish |
| Official website | |
Fairytale of Kathmandu is a documentary made by Neasa Ní Chianáin.
The documentary focused on visits by the poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh to Nepal during which he had sexual relationships with young men of 16 years old or older. According to Liam Gaskin, these relationships did not involve sodomy.[1]
Liam Gaskin has since stood down as Cathal Ó Searcaigh as a result of a DVD launched to defend Cathal Ó Searcaigh - one of the people interviewed to support the poet turned out not to be one of those in the documentary, but someone with the same first name[2].
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[edit] Legality
The age of consent in Nepal is sixteen, thus no local law was violated.[citation needed] Given that age of consent in Ireland is 17 years old,[3] and the the Irish government can prosecute for foreign acts,[4] the film caused considerable controversy in the Republic of Ireland.[citation needed]
Following complaints by Fiona Neary of the Rape Crisis Network it has emerged that the Irish police force have been investigating Ó Searcaigh since 2006 following complaints from the film's director.[5]
Interpol has also been given access to footage from the documentary[6].
[edit] Showings of the documentary
The documentary has been shown at several documentary film festivals including the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam (its first showing) and the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival where it had its first showing in Ireland in February 2008. The documentary was shown on Irish television on the evening of March 11, 2008. According to RTÉ, the show attracted 253,000 viewers. The documentary has been selected for its North American premiere at Seattle International Film Festival and its UK premiere at Edinburgh International Festival, both in June 2008. The film was awarded second place in the International Documentary Competition at Documenta Madrid in May 2008.[7]
[edit] Criticism of Ó Searcaigh
Ó Searcaigh was criticised by many journalists and commentators who believed that his behaviour was unethical and possibly criminal. He was also criticised by callers to the RTÉ Liveline programme, hosted by Joe Duffy.
Ireland's Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin's initial reaction was that "there are 'difficulties' with the inclusion of poems by Cathal Ó Searcaigh on the Leaving Certificate curriculum."[8] Although she later noted that the lives of many authors of works on the curriculum were questionable.[citation needed]
[edit] Defense of Ó Searcaigh
He was defended on multiple occasions by Senator Eoghan Harris, who pointed out that the age of consent in Nepal is 16 and that Nepal is a homophobic society. Harris contends that many of Ó Searcaigh's Nepalese accusers may have their own agendas.[9]
The poet has also been defended by Máire Mhac an tSaoi, who has accused Ní Chianáin of unethical behavior. She questions whether the film-maker ever informed Ó Searcaigh of the fact that she was no longer filming as a friend but as an antagonist. Mhac an tSaoi also pointed to the two-year delay between the filming and the release of the film and ensuing publicity, suggesting that Ní Chianáin was more interested in publicizing her work than in protecting Nepalese young men. Defenders of Ní Chianáin, on the other hand, have noted that she brought her concerns to the attention of the Irish police upon her return from Nepal in 2006.
Ó Searcaigh was also defended by Eamon Delaney.
[edit] References
- ^ "Greek philosophy is clouding debate about O Searcaigh", Sunday Independent, 2008-03-23. Retrieved on 2008-03-28.
- ^ The young men of Kathmandu speak for themselves - Update
- ^ Dáil Éireann. Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act, 1996 - Definition of 'Child';. Irish Statue Book.
- ^ Dáil Éireann. Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act, 1996 - Sexual offences committed outside State.. Irish Statue Book.
- ^ MAEVE SHEEHAN. Boys were 'damaged' by sex trysts with poet, 10/2/08. Irish Independent.
- ^ [http://www.independent.ie/national-news/interpol-given-access-to-film-of-o-searcaigh-youths-1319560.html Interpol given access to film of O Searcaigh youths , Irish Independent]
- ^ Revealed:How Poet set up charity fund. Irish Independent.ie. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
- ^ http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0220/osearcaigh.html "Ó Searcaigh poems may be taken off curriculum"
- ^ Fairytale ending so sad and predictable. Irish Independent. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
