Hearts and Souls

The 1995 divorce referendum was a watershed in modern Irish history. Not only was it the first time that an Irish documentary has been made about a referendum campaign but it was the first time that a documentary has been made about any political campaign in Ireland. On one level, 'Hearts and Souls' is a film specifically about the 'No-divorce Campaign' and its supporters as they fough a crucial battle against the 'Liberal Agenda' but, on another level, it is simply a film about a tightly-knit group working together for a cause. The 'No-divorce Campaign', the more controversial of the two umbrella groups that opposed the passing of the constitutional amendment that allowed the right to remarry, permitted award-winning Irish documentary maker, Donald Taylor Black, and his crew, to observe their struggle. For seventeen days between Saturday, 21st October and the Dublin count at the rds count centre on Saturday, 25th November, they filmed their strategy meetings, press conference media interviews and behind the scenes as the NDC attempted to win the referendum.