Trespasses

In the tumultuous year of 1975, as Northern Ireland grapples with the escalating brutality of the Troubles, Cushla, a young Catholic schoolteacher, navigates a life both mundane and precarious. Living with her widowed mother in a small town outside Belfast, she divides her days between teaching at a parochial school and serving pints in her family’s pub, seeking routine amidst the pervasive fear and sectarian divide. Her quiet existence is irrevocably altered when she encounters Michael Agnew, an older, charismatic Protestant barrister renowned for defending IRA members. Drawn to his intellectual world and undeniable charm, Cushla finds herself entangled in a passionate, illicit affair that defies the rigid boundaries of their society. As their dangerous liaison deepens, the political violence that hammers daily life begins to encroach on Cushla's personal world. When the father of one of her students is brutally attacked, Cushla is forced to confront the harsh realities of her choices and the profound implications of Michael’s political involvement. This shattering event ignites a perilous chain reaction, threatening not only her clandestine romance but also the safety and well-being of everyone she holds dear. 'Trespasses' is a poignant exploration of love, loyalty, and betrayal against a backdrop of unforgiving conflict, asking what – and who – one is willing to sacrifice when peace is a distant dream.