Documentary: Meet the McDermotts

“It’s hard to believe that only 30 years ago contraception was illegal in Ireland. Mary and Seamus have no less than nine kids. Family planning wasn’t easy in the 70s, when buying condoms was an illegal act, and wasn’t liberalized until 1985. Mary and Seamus never planned for such a big family, but they wouldn’t want it any other way”.

That is how Griffith College student and future film-maker superstar Pia Stromme describes her new documentary, The McDermotts. A beautifully filmed short-documentary about an Irish family with nine kids, that is both emotional and funny.

We meet Mary and Seamus, the parents, soon to be the only ones left in the house. Many of the McDermott kids have now grown up and emigrated, but we are invited in to their home to hear and see their story. What has it been like for Mary and Seamus raising nine children? How has it been for the kids growing up with so many siblings? And what are their thoughts about the future?

Take a look at the film to see the powerful and cleverly documented testimony of a loving, inspiring  and playful family, and leave a comment below and let us know what you think.

For more information on the film-maker herself check out her
Vimeo page
and/or tweet her
@PiaStromme