Maria was a romantic, animal-loving, dreamy child who, growing up, had a hard time conforming to the demands associated with the trajectory towards "a normal life". As a young adult she became depressed, and was encouraged by her therapist to go for walks in the forest. The myriad of funny-looking twigs and sticks she found along the way immediately put her on a path to recovery. Now, 25 years later, she's a celebrated "twig poet" whose art is shown in galleries throughout Sweden.

When a climate related crisis strikes the forest where she lives and works, she's forced into a new type of creativity in order to save the place that once upon a time saved her.

This film is episode two of twelve of the series "Something Beautiful for the World": a collaborative project that explores how small acts of love and kindness have the potential to ripple out and change the world, touching hearts and minds in ways that we could never begin to imagine. "Something Beautiful for the World” is a collaboration between Reflections of Life, Campfire Stories and Happen Films.

Produced, filmed and edited by: Mattias Olsson for Campfire Stories
18 mins | Sweden | 2024 | English

This screening will be followed by a talk (speaker TBA) and community discussion about how ideas from this film could be implemented in an Irish context.

This screening is made possible through Arts Council Funding.

Visit: https://ccen.ie/ to build community in Carlow and find out more.

Tickets can be purchased online, in person or over the phone at Box Office. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Wheelchair users and any group over 8 persons should book tickets directly through Box Office. Further Terms and Conditions can be found at visualcarlow.ie/visit/booking-information.