The Father, the Son & the Housekeeper + Q&A
As part of a retrospective of the work of Alison Millar, Docs Ireland presents The Father, the Son and the Housekeeper (2007), Millar's intimate portrait of the 'singing priest' and complicated man Father Michael Cleary. Followed by a Q&A with Cleary.
Buried under concrete and controversy on the outskirts of Dublin lie the remains of Ireland’s infamous ‘Singing Priest’, Father Michael Cleary. He had two best selling albums and topped the bill at the Sydney Opera House and the Stardust Club in Las Vegas.
Well-known for his staunch Catholic views on sex, divorce and abortion, it became clear after his death that he had lived a contradictory ‘secret life’. In 1991, as a student, Alison Millar moved into Michael Cleary’s house and started filming him observationally. This film is the story of the secret life of a man who fooled her, his family and an entire nation.
This film will be followed by a Q&A with Alison Millar.
Alison Millar Retrospective
Alison Millar’s documentary about her friend Lyra McKee is one of the most skillfully made and meaningful documentaries to ever come out of Northern Ireland. Docs Ireland will examine Alison’s early career, and track the fascinating journey of work that led to the creation of Lyra. Alison will join us for both screenings to discuss the films.
