Just Saying is an Irish short film, made in 2012. It is written and directed by Dave Tynan
It features a young twenty-something Irish boy, played by actor Emmet Kirwan, walking through Dublin city at night. He recites a poem addressing the state of young people in the country - and what it means to be Irish. At the end of the film, the boy is seen on a ship sailing off - implying he's emigrating like so many other young Irish people.
The film was a viral sensation, clocking up over 200,000 views in a short amount of time. Based by Dave Tynan on his own experiences as an emigrant abroad, the film struck a chord with the generation of Irish teens and twenty-somethings forced to move abroad in the wake of the economic recession. The film can be viewed here
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Just tropes:
- Alone in a Crowd: Downplayed. The boy walks past crowds of friends and couples, remaining alone the whole time.
- Bittersweet Ending: The boy is leaving Ireland at the end of the film. It's implied that it's both what he wants to do - seeking a better life abroad - but he's going to miss his home like hell.
- But Not Too White: The boy takes special time to mock this trope, a Take That! to girls who wear too much fake tan."You'll never fool anyone into thinking you're from the beach cities..."
- But Now I Must Go: The boy must join so many others in emigrating abroad.
- Contemplate Our Navels: The boy spends the whole film doing this.
- Crappy Holidays: The film takes place in December, evidenced by the Christmas lights seen in Grafton Street. Meaning the boy either had to emigrate before Christmas, or that was his last Christmas at home.
- Empathic Environment: The setting switches from night to day as the boy boards his ship.
- Ghost City: It's no coincidence that the city is incredibly deserted as the boy walks through it. Although there are a couple of people in the background, the majority of the time it's empty. Possibly to give the impression of how it's been depleted?
- Precision F-Strike: The boy's only really bitter moment in the film comes with this line."Any craic?note No, you's all fucked off..."
- Pun: "Crouching tiger, hidden naggin."
- Riding into the Sunset: Well, into the sunrise at the end. But it has the same effect.
- Scenery Porn: Plenty of time is spent showing off the beautiful night time scenery of Dublin.
- Shining City: Since the video was filmed around December, the Christmas lights in Dublin give the city a gleaming look.
- Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism: The film's on the Cynical side for most of the running time - lamenting how the economic recession led to friendships being split up by young people having to emigrate. That said, there are glimmers of hope."McGowan and McGrath still walk this Earth..."
- Title Drop: The very first line actually.
- You Are Not Alone: The film has been interpreted to be invoking this trope for all the Irish people affected by the recession.
- "What Now?" Ending: The boy leaves Ireland with no idea what he'll do abroad.
- A World Half Full: This seems to be the boy's attitude, stating that although Ireland isn't in a great state, they still love it anyway.
