By 2006 St. Ita’s Psychiatric Hospital, commonly known as Portrane, was a place which evoked fear and loathing in the public imagination even though little was known about what went on inside. As it was then facing closure, Gilsenan gained unprecedented access to the institution and, with signature sensitivity and integrity, he chronicled an intimate record of life for the residents (some of whom who had been there for half a century), explored the treatments in use, and considered the immense challenges of life after release.

Notes by Sunniva O’Flynn

Screening as part of the Alan Gilsenan Retrospective