Martin Duffy

It’s Ireland in 1967, when a flying saucer full of aliens lands on Dan’s farm. Dan falls in love with an alien girl and tries his best to make everybody believe that she and all the other aliens are humans.

1980s Derry: Goretti Friel, one of a spirited group of teenage friends, meets Ciarán at her Irish language class, and romance blossoms. When he is arrested and imprisoned by the British army, Goretti is dismayed to find herself pregnant. Left to deal with the crisis alone, she is tormented by the conflicts of her growing belly and the influence of a Catholic upbringing.

During a conversation he has with a young priest, a bishop reveals to him a love story that turned his beliefs upside down.

Irish emigrants in London and New York are contrasted with life in Ireland where unemployment and deprivation are said to be endemic. The experience, effects and meaning of emigration in 1980s Irish is examined using a combination of interviews with emigrants, commentators and politicians. The film also features inserts of a stand-up comic performing in various locations, adding a surreal element to the programme.