Fairytale in Kathmandu

As a student, director Neasa Ní Chianáin first encountered Irish poet, Cathal Ó Searcaigh. The charismatic figure of Ó Searcaigh cast a spell on her: his poetry spoke of the land, the pain of lost love, and loneliness. Years later and by then his neighbour in Donegal, the director accompanies Ó Searcaigh to his spiritual home, Nepal, and films him there. For a decade, the poet has made annual trips there, basking in the culture and repaying its hospitality by sponsoring Nepalese youth in their studies. In this impoverished society, he is regarded as a god. Through the camera lens, the fairytale shines: boy after boy speaks warmly of the poet, of his generosity. He basks in the attention and talks frankly about love, friendship and the innocence of the Nepalese. But the more Ní Chianáin learns about Ó Searcaigh’s Nepalese life, the more she discovers a different tale, and feels impelled to enter her own film and question his motives, confronting him on camera. The answers she receives are surprising, and surprisingly honest.