Alessandra Celesia

The Flats

France, Belgium, Ireland, United Kingdom 2024
114 min • English. English subtitles
K12
Theme: Explosive
13.11.2024 | Time 16:30 | Venue: Tapio 4 | BUY TICKET

The unshaken trauma of political violence

Directed by Alessandra Celesia, the documentary The Flats is a mix between a therapy session and a newscast. It is a story of the lasting trauma left behind by political violence. The documentary centers on Joe, an aging man living in a run-down New Lodge neighborhood. In this Catholic area of Belfast, at the time of the conflict in Northern Ireland, the death toll was tragically high. Although more than a quarter of a century has passed since then, the conflict between Catholics and protestants is still haunting the inhabitants. Sexism, domestic violence, substance abuse and unnecessary rage accompany the merging of past and present. 

Towards the end of his life, Joe is determined to confront the ghosts of his past with the help of a therapist. Joe is joined by his neighbors Jolene, Sean, and Angie, who are all happy to participate in this process. A process of revisiting the collective memories that shaped their lives and the area in which they live.

Trailer