«Òran na h-Eala» by Steve Exeter

With stunning visuals that evoke a romantic, rarefied atmosphere and the use of mise-en-abyme, ‘Òran na h-Eala’ is a triumph of visual storytelling and a tribute to Moira Shearer’s legacy. The short film guides the viewer to discover Moira’s version of herself, her path to stardom, and the consequences of her decision, creating a hypnotic reflection within the reflection. The real facts of the plot and the true story of Moira Shearer are overlaid with the stream of consciousness of the protagonist, a dancer who achieved worldwide fame with her role in The Red Shoes.

Torn between her visceral passion for dance and the insistence of the directors who want her in their promised commercial film success, Moira/Victoria continually questions her identity, subjugated by her desire to shine on stage.

The boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, emotions run deep, and a desperate search for validation verges on self-sabotage. If you are a fan of Powell and Pressburger’s ‘The Red Shoes’, you cannot miss this wonderful Steve Exeter’s short film, a journey into the heart and mind of a film star and how she experiences a decision that will change her life forever, before and after agreeing to act in the great classic.