The Woman in the Wall

I only watched one episode. I agree with the OP, it detracts from the horror of the Magdalene Laundries. Didn’t bother with the second episode last night.

So far I’m very impressed. Not least that the narrative keeps reminding us, as it should, what horrors those nuns were capable of and the wreckage they made of their victims’ futures. I hope the next four episodes also keep on track with all that, not because it’s grim for grim’s sake but because the real-life laundry victims should be respected and too much diversion from the reality of their suffering they experienced would risk exploiting them.

The cruelty and hypocrisy needs airing as much as possible imo. So much damage to so many women’s lives. Absolutely tragic.

Excellent and truthful drama. I have close connections with Dublin and the accents seem fine to me. Ruth Wilson is remarkable in her portrayal and there is humour in the interaction between the police conversations. Well worth watching.

We watched first 2 episodes.
It has a tragic story to tell although parts of it are too far fetched (‘…in the wall bit)…
Made me cry and it well acted.
A very harrowing basis for a drama but one that needs telling- I will stay with it although DP has ‘switched off ‘ from it and reverted to his phone as he ‘can’t relate’ 💔😔😭

The horror of the Magdalene laundries is very much the focus in episode two, and it’s obvious that dreadful history, and its continuing effects on lives, is what this drama is all about.

polly123

Excellent and truthful drama. I have close connections with Dublin and the accents seem fine to me. Ruth Wilson is remarkable in her portrayal and there is humour in the interaction between the police conversations. Well worth watching.

I caught a snippet of it last night and resolved to watch it properly. Ruth Wilson was unrecognisable. What a great actress she is.

I am watching it, as coming from NI, I watch most things Irish. I find it interesting and can relate to how these women were viewed even during my lifetime. I had a school friend who was sent to a Protestant 'Mother and Baby' home and encouraged to give her baby up. There were Magdalene Laundries and Mother and Baby Homes run by the Roman Catholic Church in the North as well as the South. Both 'sides' of the Christian divide live in NI. I will continue watching as I want to see how it develops. What happened to those women in there was horrendous and sadly, often supported by their own families as well.

I thought it was remarkable. Ruth Wilson is such a talented actress. I don't think it trivialises the Magdalene Laundries. Frances Tomelty as the old Mother Superior was chilling and the manipulation of the girls by the nuns was horrible. The occasional bit of black humour is brilliant.

I am quite disappointed. It is very over the top and I have seen much better films about the Magdalene Laundries. I haven’t quite given up yet but am considering it.

I don't think it is over the top and have two friends from the North and South of Ireland who have told me about the laundries and what a psychological impact they had on the poor girls.
We have also unintentionally let the DD's play in what appeared to be a small pleasant park over in the West and it was disclosed a few years ago to be a graveyard for babies who died.

Delila

The horror of the Magdalene laundries is very much the focus in episode two, and it’s obvious that dreadful history, and its continuing effects on lives, is what this drama is all about.

I thought the second episode was so much better. I’m glad I decided to stick with it.

The focus wasn’t at all obvious in the first episode.

The film ‘Philomena’ was brilliant at highlighting the sad situation of girls who got pregnant before marriage and in my opinion was much better than this Woman in the Wall series.

This morning there was an interesting interview on an Irish radio station with a survivor of the Magdalene laundry system.
You can listen to it here if interested.
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-the-pat-kenny-show/the-proposed-magdalene-laundry-remembrance-centre
She also wrote a book:
www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/girl-in-the-tunnel/

I watched it, I found it interesting.

maddyone

The film ‘Philomena’ was brilliant at highlighting the sad situation of girls who got pregnant before marriage and in my opinion was much better than this Woman in the Wall series.

I agree that was a very moving and disconcerting film. Unbelievable how the blame always lay with the women..

Not creepy, just plain daft. No Irish village where everyone knows one another would allow a sleepwalking dipsomaniac to run around with an axe - barefoot in a nightie some of the time - with no attempt to stop her. Oh, but, "nothing ever happens here", does it? So we'll all ignore her. It's even more stupid than that idiotic "Wolf" on the BBC last week. Where does prime time TV get their scriptwriters from? Live at the Apollo?
Needless to say, I won't be watching any more of it.

As the adopted child of a mother who was sent to a mother and baby home in this country, not a Magdalene Laundry, I am finding it fascinating. Ruth Wilson is excellent in my book. These experiences have affected us all and the more aware people are the better. I’m in my 60s and it still affects my life today.

I don’t understand anyone who thinks it amusing! It’s anything but!!

I was taught by a very similar order of nuns to those depicted in the laundry - only their faces and hands showing. Most were horrible.

ruthie2

Not creepy, just plain daft. No Irish village where everyone knows one another would allow a sleepwalking dipsomaniac to run around with an axe - barefoot in a nightie some of the time - with no attempt to stop her. Oh, but, "nothing ever happens here", does it? So we'll all ignore her. It's even more stupid than that idiotic "Wolf" on the BBC last week. Where does prime time TV get their scriptwriters from? Live at the Apollo?
Needless to say, I won't be watching any more of it.

I didn't think the sleepwalking was far fetched, but the idea that an abandoned house they used as teenagers was still just as it was, was a bit much. Someone would have bought it and converted it into a holiday let by now!
Still I can suspend my practical head and just go with it for a good story.

Maddy, perhaps you ought to see the whole of the series before comparing it with the film.

Glorianny - there are lots of abandoned houses in rural Ireland. There's even been a survey recently about how many could be salvaged - seems the cost is more than they would be worth after upgrading. Many are in areas where no-one wants to live or even holiday!

However, I agree that one needs to suspend disbelief for parts of the story!

Farmor15

Glorianny - there are lots of abandoned houses in rural Ireland. There's even been a survey recently about how many could be salvaged - seems the cost is more than they would be worth after upgrading. Many are in areas where no-one wants to live or even holiday!

However, I agree that one needs to suspend disbelief for parts of the story!

Thanks. I think what I really meant to say was that it was unlikely to be in the same condition it was in 20+ years earlier when she was a teenager. Then I thought of how many cottages are now holiday lets and got carried away!!!

SueEH how is your life today affected by what happened to your mother ?