Hush-a-Bye Baby

The story unfolds during the Troubles, a period of political conflict in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It shows arrests, censorship, and social stigma tied to pregnancy and Irish-language culture. The era shapes how characters navigate secrecy, safety, and family pressures.

Primarily set in Derry in Northern Ireland, with significant scenes in the County Donegal Gaeltacht and the fishing village of Ballyshannon. The setting highlights Irish-speaking communities and tight-knit local life. The landscapes underscore cultural identity amid the era’s political tension.

💔 Forbidden Love

A teenage romance between Goretti and Ciarán becomes the emotional center of the story. Their relationship is intensified by secrecy, disapproval, and potential consequences from family and community. The romance challenges friendships and forces choices under pressure. It exposes how love can collide with political and social constraints.

🗣️ Language & Identity

The Irish language and cultural identity are woven into the narrative, from classroom Irish to a prison letter written in Irish. Language acts as a connector to ancestry and tradition, while also becoming a tool of censorship and misunderstanding. The Gaeltacht journey and the Heaney poem reference highlight language as a marker of belonging. The film uses language to explore personal and communal identity.

🤰 Pregnancy & Secrecy

Goretti’s pregnancy drives the plot and reveals the harsh realities of secrecy and stigma. The characters grapple with unsafe attempts to resolve the situation, and the burden falls on Young women in a conservative setting. Silence, fear, and blame color the response from peers, family, and institutions. The story culminates in a moment of intense pain and revelation, underscoring the vulnerability of the protagonists.