The inauguration ceremony for Mary Robinson

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MRS ROBINSON
Directed by Aoife Kelleher
Certificate: 12a
☆☆☆☆

IN a contemporary world where we have strongman presidents closing down borders, pursuing aggressive and attritional policies and anger and fighting seems to be the fall-back position, a film that tells the story of a democratically elected leader who is the absolute antithesis of such demagogic figures is most welcome.

While the film title draws no doubt on The Graduate, the title could have easily been There’s Something About Mary – because indeed there is.

Mrs Robinson, screened this week at the Irish Film Festival in Piccadilly, is a biography with that takes the inspirational story of Mary Robinson, the Irish president between 1990 and 1997.

It’s more a loving picture of a woman who changed Irish society. It’s a consideration of what makes a genuine humanist – how you can use your talents and experiences for the good of everyone. That is Mrs Robinson in a nutshell.

We learn of a childhood of competing against four brothers: her parents told her she could do whatever they did and was worth as much as them. Empowering words for the period – but also something which, on reflection, she says was patently untrue. She was born into an Ireland that was a church-based, patriarchal society. She became a lawyer, focusing on the constitution – not solely academic when considered in the context of the Troubles – and then won a post as senator.

In 1990 she won the top job. It was the first time Fianna Fáil had not won the presidency, and ushered in a new sense of modernity. Described as “fearless about walking into difficult situations,” we learn she is both tough and cultured, serious but party loving. “She knows how to party as hard as she does work,” we are told.

Talking heads give the viewers an idea of the challenges overcome.

After stepping down, Mary took her talent beyond the Irish borders, chasing down human rights abusers, and today is the chairwoman of The Elders, a social justice body established by Nelson Mandela.

Musician Peter Gabriel was a co-founder of the Elders project. He says: “She always has been this strong, feisty, spirited person who goes in and fights for people, who need support.” That comes over in this celebratory story. Let’s all be a little more like Mary.