Film Review: Mrs. Robinson

Directed by Aoife Kelleher
94 min – Ireland – US Premiere

It is embarrassing to know that few among us are aware that Ireland voted in its first female president in 1990; fewer of us still know her name, or anything else about Mary Robinson.

The documentary Mrs. Robinson offers a thorough examination of Mary Robinson’s life, with its many remarkable chapters before and after her term as president. She studied to be a lawyer at King’s College, and spent a year at Harvard in the tumultuous 1967-68 period. While admittedly shy in her personal life, she learned to love public engagement, especially debating.

Through her youth and early career, the government of Ireland operated as a patriarchy, with rules against women serving in politics, or receiving fair wages, and considered homosexuality a crime. It was supported by the Catholic church, which forbade birth control of any type. As a young lawyer she was keenly interested in challenging these restrictions, and was successful in her efforts. She entered politics as a senator, giving her further power in her battles, but when she was encouraged by colleagues to run for office, she was skeptical that a female leader would ever be accepted.

Against all odds, in 1990 she defeated the stable (and church-supported) ruling party candidate and became the first female president. It was the dawn of a new age in Ireland, witnessing the abolition of many outdated laws. She had a hugely productive tenure, but in 1997 decided not to run for re-election, pivoting to human rights work with the United Nations, and more recently has served as a member of “The Elders.”

Mrs Robinson does not omit the professional mistakes Mary Robinson made, which she discusses with great honesty. But the overwhelming number of achievements which have benefited so many is the greatest takeaway from this compelling portrait.

About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a celebrated venue for independent and international cinema. Over its 40-year history, SBIFF has grown into one of the leading film festivals in the United States, known for its commitment to community education and the arts. The festival not only showcases world-class filmmaking but also supports educational initiatives aimed at students and underserved communities within Santa Barbara County. For detailed information on films and events featured at the festival, please visit SBIFF’s official website.