The stars of a critically acclaimed new Irish movie about a couple's journey to procure an abortion have said that audiences should approach the film with an open mind, adding that it is in fact more concerned with charting the ups and downs of a romance.
Twice Shy opens in cinemas on Friday and tells the story of a young Co.Tipperary couple, played by Iseult Casey and Shane Murray-Corcoran, who face difficult choices as a result of an unwanted pregnancy.
Told through flashbacks, the movie looks at their blossoming relationship as teenagers right through to their time as more sure-footed adults.
It's already won rave notices on the film festival circuit and from critics, who've praised the movie for its even-handed and well-crafted approach to such a red-button topic.
24-year-old Casey, who makes her big screen debut as Maggie, the young student who discovers she's pregnant, admits that the issue of abortion in the movie's story line had the potential to alienate some film-goers.
"We knew from the get go that people would make assumptions before seeing the film." she told RTÉ Entertainment.
But she says the sensitive and non-moralistic approach taken by writer and director Tom Ryan, as well as its much broader themes, means that audiences will find those assumptions challenged.
"It has been sensationalised as an abortion drama. I think people would be very surprised when the see the film to find out that its more of a modern Irish love story."
"I see it as romance. It's about a young couple when things go sour. After they discover that Maggie is pregnant, it's more about how they deal with that and have to grow up." she added.
Her co-star Shane Murray-Corcoran agrees and says that while abortion forms part of the Twice Shy storyline, "for me the relationship is the main focus."
He also says that the director and cast were aware of the sensitivities involved and were at pains to make sure that the finished cut would be as balanced and non-judgemental as possible.
"We tried to make sure that we weren't making a stance and more just portraying what these characters were going through in their everyday lives." he said.
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With the government now committing itself to holding a referendum on the Eighth Amendment next year, both young actors say they hope that in addition to being an enjoyable and thought-provoking film, Twice Shy may also contribute to the debate on abortion in a positive way.
"That's what art can be really great for is putting things in context. So we hope that by telling this story through the medium of film that it will put this kind of story into context for people who might just not know what to think at all." says Casey.
Twice Shy is on release at selected cinemas nationwide.
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