Fairytale of Kathmandu
| Fairytale of Kathmandu | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Neasa Ní Chianáin |
| Produced by | David Rane |
| Narrated by | Neasa Ní Chianáin |
| Cinematography | Tristan Monbureau |
| Edited by | Úna Ní Dhongháile Declan McGrath |
| Music by | Arnaud Ruest |
Release date | 21 November 2007 |
Running time | 60 minutes |
| Countries | Ireland Nepal |
| Languages | English Irish |
Fairytale of Kathmandu is a 2007 documentary by Neasa Ní Chianáin.
The documentary focused on visits by the poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh to Nepal during which he had close relationships with many young men of 18 years old or older. According to him, he had sexual relationships with only a "small fraction" of them, and that he has never indulged in anal intercourse in Nepal.[1]
In March, 2008, Liam Gaskin, who had been acting as his public spokesman, stood down as a result of a DVD launched to defend Cathal Ó Searcaigh by his supporters in Kathmandu. One of the people interviewed to support the poet turned out not to be one of those in the documentary, but someone with the same first name[2].
He has only given two extended interviews since the film was broadcast. The first was in Irish, on Radió na Gaeltachta on 26th March, 2008[3] [4].
The second was for Hot Press magazine, in English, in February 2009.[5]
Legality
The age of consent in Nepal is sixteen, thus no local law was violated. [citation needed] Nepal's Supreme Court held in November 2008 that banning same sex couples from marriage violated their equality provisions in their Constitution and directed the Nepalese Government to draft laws permitting same sex marriage.[6] However, given that age of consent in Ireland is 17 years old,[7] and the the Irish government can prosecute for foreign acts,[8] the film caused considerable controversy in the Republic of Ireland.[citation needed]
Following complaints by Fiona Neary of the Rape Crisis Network it has emerged that the Irish police force have been investigating Ó Searcaigh since 2006 following complaints from the film's director.[9]
Interpol has also been given access to footage from the documentary[10].
To date, no criminal charges have been brought, either in Ireland or Nepal.
Showings of the documentary
The documentary has now been shown at 23 international documentary film festivals including the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam (its first showing) and the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival where it had its first showing in Ireland in February 2008. The documentary was shown on Irish television on the evening of March 11, 2008. According to RTÉ, the show attracted 253,000 viewers. The documentary has been screened for its North American premiere at Seattle International Film Festival and its UK premiere at Edinburgh International Festival, both in June 2008. The film was awarded second place in the International Documentary Competition at Documenta Madrid in May 2008, and it won the Best Director (Documentary) award for Ní Chianáin at the 13th Ourense International Film Festival in October 2008, and the Film Critics Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Barcelona Gay & Lesbian Festival, also in October 2008.[11]
Criticism of Ó Searcaigh
Ó Searcaigh was criticised by many journalists and commentators who believed that his behaviour was unethical and possibly criminal. He was also criticised by callers to the RTÉ Liveline programme, hosted by Joe Duffy. One is left with the question: if it's immoral or wrong in your own, home culture, is it also wrong no matter where you go?
Ireland's Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin's initial reaction was that "there are 'difficulties' with the inclusion of poems by Cathal Ó Searcaigh on the Leaving Certificate curriculum."[12] Although she later noted that the lives of many authors of works on the curriculum were questionable.[citation needed]
Quentin Fottrell argued that Cathal O'Searchaighs homosexuality was irrelevant and that his behaviour was unethical because it involved conditional charity and a power gap between a relatively wealthy European adult and Nepalese youth living in poverty.[13]
In the light of the documentary, questions were asked about an appeal he had made in 2005 to raise money for children from poor Nepalese families.[14] An auction with several donations from celebrities had been set up, but there was no charitable trust set up.[15]
Defense of Ó Searcaigh
He was defended on multiple occasions by Senator Eoghan Harris, who pointed out that the age of consent in Nepal is 16 and that Nepal is a homophobic society. Harris contends that many of Ó Searcaigh's Nepalese accusers may have their own agendas.[16]
The poet has also been defended by Máire Mhac an tSaoi, who has accused Ní Chianáin of unethical behavior. She questions whether the film-maker ever informed Ó Searcaigh of the fact that she was no longer filming as a friend but as an antagonist (or at least as an investigative reporter). Mhac an tSaoi also pointed to the two-year delay between the filming and the release of the film and ensuing publicity, suggesting that Ní Chianáin was more interested in publicizing her work than in protecting Nepalese young men. Ó Searcaigh was also defended by Eamon Delaney.
Defenders of Ní Chianáin, on the other hand, have noted that she brought her concerns to the attention of the Irish police and Social Services upon her return from Nepal in 2006, and in the two year period before the film was released, she managed to set up a trust fund and secure counselling and support services in Nepal for boys who had encountered Searcaigh.
References
- ^ "Poet only had sex with small fraction of men". The Irish Times.
- ^ "The young men of Kathmandu speak for themselves".
- ^ "Barrscéalta". Radió na Gaeltachta.
- ^ Tomaltach. "English translation of interview". fichefocal.blogspot.com.
- ^ Dermod Moore. "Ó Searcaigh interview". Hot Press.
- ^ MarriagEquality. "Nepalese Supreme Court Decision".
- ^ Dáil Éireann. "Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act, 1996 - Definition of 'Child';". Irish Statue Book.
- ^ Dáil Éireann. "Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act, 1996 - Sexual offences committed outside State". Irish Statue Book.
- ^ MAEVE SHEEHAN. "Boys were 'damaged' by sex trysts with poet, 10/2/08". Irish Independent.
- ^ Interpol given access to film of O Searcaigh youths , Irish Independent
- ^ "Fairytale of Kathmandu wins Madrid award". RTE News. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
- ^ http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0220/osearcaigh.html "Ó Searcaigh poems may be taken off curriculum"
- ^ Ó Searcaigh's Kathmandu controversy is about ethics and responsibility, Irish Times, February 9, 2008
- ^ "Revealed:How Poet set up charity fund". Irish Independent.ie. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
- ^ We need to know how Nepal charity cash was used, Irish Independent, 26 March 2008, retrieved 6 February 2009
- ^ "Fairytale ending so sad and predictable". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2008-03-13.