This startling first feature, showing exclusively at the IFI, from Irish-born, London-based duo the Desperate Optimists marks them as the most distinctive new talents to emerge in these islands in the past few years. HELEN tells the story of a lonely hotel maid who volunteers to play the missing girl in a police reconstruction and learns so much about the young woman's life she almost wants to take her place.

Owing much to the likes of European art-house big-hitters Theo Angelopoulos and Michael Haneke, but also imbued with a Loachian compassion for its working-class heroine, this story of loss and longing is absolutely mandatory viewing. For mor information on Helen and to reserve tickets log onto www.irishfilm.ie

The Dublin Docklands Development Authority was a commissioning partner on this film.