5 Black's Rd, London
Until 30 Nov
Directed by Breege Rowley. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with the Director. “All Our Yesterdays” The Voices Of A Town. The Story Of A Nation. A poetic and visually moving journey into the soul of a community — its memories, its people, its spirit — woven together through images, voices and the places that shaped them. “A Love Letter to County Mayo” – Film Ireland Synopsis All Our Yesterdays is an international feature documentary that tells the story of a Mayo community whose lived experience now connects more than 70 million people of Irish descent worldwide. Spanning over two centuries marked by famine, conflict, migration and profound social change, the film draws on cine reels, photographs, letters, music and personal testimony — a rare archive of ordinary people navigating extraordinary moments. Guided by the voices of elders, musicians, archivists and storytellers, the film brings viewers through Ireland’s story as seen from within the community itself. These voices illuminate daily life, community bonds, quiet endurance and the will to succeed that carried families through hardship, prejudice and political struggle. Intimate personal reflections reveal the emotional landscape of departure, belonging and renewal — experiences still felt across the global diaspora today. Narration is provided by Irish-American Nora McBurney, whose grandmother emigrated from Swinford. Her voice carries the perspective of a descendant returning to the source, expressing the connection felt by millions who inherit these stories across oceans. As the narrative moves toward the present, All Our Yesterdays shows how the experiences of one small Irish town shaped generations who left — and millions around the world who now seek a deeper understanding of where their family story began. “One town. Over two hundred and fifty years. Seventy million descendants.” Film Length: 90mins
Not the same tradition as the lineage above — a genuinely different thread to pull, if you want one.