HELPLESS - BBC NI Funded Short Film
Funded through BBC NI’s Greenlit scheme
George Robinson, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Éanna Hardwicke and Vanessa Ifediora
Co-written by Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney
Directed by Oisín Kearney
Starring George Robinson, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Éanna Hardwicke and Vanessa Ifediora
Produced by Keith Martin
Will premier at Belfast Media Festival 2025
Newly disabled wheelchair-user Cillian (George Robinson) is a hopeless romantic, down-on-his-luck and obsessed with the curious girl next door, Grace (Saoirse-Monica Jackson). He suspects her shady boyfriend Joe (Éanna Hardwicke) is abusing her, but help is in short supply – even his personal care assistant Fleur (Vanessa Ifediora) has fallen for Joe’s charms. Desperate to save Grace, Cillian must overcome his fears and confront Joe himself, but behind closed doors the situation is more complex than he ever could have imagined.
Helpless is a contemporary story from Northern Ireland with high stakes, dark comedy, and unexpected characters, written by multi-award-winning writers Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney (My Left Nut). Cillian’s situation is inspired by Michael’s real-life experience as a newly disabled wheelchair user. Helpless explores prejudice, the lengths people will go to for love, and how things are not always as they seem.