Filmmaker Statement

THE COPE is a universal exploration of toxic love. They say love is blind, which is undoubtedly true in the case of the protagonist, Sadhbh. This theme fascinates me and is a recurring motif in my work, particularly the use of masks in relationships. It is very much a film for the time we live, dealing with issues from addiction, mental health, toxic masculinity and the housing crisis. The story is universal in its depiction of contemporary, early adulthood. Although set in small-town Ireland, it could be any town globally. This drama is not quite ‘kitchen sink’, but there is a sharp social critique. And when that is juxtaposed against the ethereal nature of Sadhbh’s dance rehearsals, it offers a poetic, gen-z counterbalance that is as universal as tick-tock videos.