As stars of the silver screen and the rock stage, actress Saoirse Ronan and musician Hozier are to front a new movement hoping to tackle domestic violence, with the singer set to use his song Cherry Wine in the campaign.
The song’s music video, which will debut on Valentine’s Day this weekend, addresses the often unmentioned and unspoken of issue of violence between partners. Columbia Records, Island Records, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing have all pledged to donate their proceeds from downloads of the song to a number of charities that specialise in the support of victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
Ronan, a two-time Oscar nominee who recently starred in the Irish drama Brooklyn, features in the music video as a woman coming to terms with being involved with a physically abusive partner. The video also features Irish actor Moe Dunford, who won the EEP Shooting Star award at the Berlinale in 2015 for his role in Patrick’s Day.
Cherry Wine’s video is also directed by Dearbhla Walsh, the acclaimed director who has previously won an Emmy and IFTA.
The song, written by the Wicklow rock star, tells the story of an abused man, offering a stark take on how the men and women suffering domestic violence often attempt to justify their partner’s actions. It is currently available for download from the iTunes store.
“Domestic violence is an ongoing issue in our society, the statistics of which are shocking and the effects of which damage whole families, communities and span generations,” the singer said. “With the song Cherry Wine, I tried to get across the difficulty of coming to terms with and facing up to domestic violence and the dynamic of an abusive relationship. I'm honoured to be joined by Saoirse Ronan, Dearbhla Walsh and Moe Dunford in spreading awareness on this issue.”
"I am equally honoured to join Hozier to create awareness for the #FaceUpToDomesticViolence campaign with the release of "Cherry Wine" as a charity single. The song has always been one of my favourite tracks on his album,” Saoirse Ronan said.
“I hope through the video and song we can shine light on the issue and complexity of domestic abuse and in doing so help those caught up in the cycle of domestic violence,” the Carlow actress added.
Anyone suffering from domestic violence looking for information on how to access support services can click here.
