“SOME PEOPLE THINK that I can’t make decisions for myself. They might talk over me and ignore me when really they should ask me directly about anything they want to talk about.”

Luca Malocco Mulville (27) speaks powerfully of dealing with society’s perceptions of people with an intellectual disability. An actor for the past four years, Luca stars in his first leading role in a new film, Grace, which airs tonight on RTÉ2 at 9.30pm and which highlights an example of the lived experience he describes.

“It’s about a woman with Down Syndrome who wants to live independently and make her own decisions especially about her relationship with her boyfriend Tommy,” he explains.

Luca plays Tommy, who is in a warm and loving relationship with Grace; the film follows the couple as they negotiate restrictions on their time and personal space together in a society which casts judgement on what it deems appropriate for them. 

Grace is played by the equally wonderful Fiadhnait Canning (28) and the two actors put in incredibly powerful, authentic and emotionally intelligent performances. In the film, support from family and key workers often looks more like control, with attitudes towards the couple ranging from empowering to dismissive and patronising.

In one subtle but important early scene, a romantic dinner is called to a halt as Grace and Tommy are told to “wrap it up”. Grace later rings Tommy to check in, apparently against some rule; “We’re not allowed to call at night”.

Luca connected quickly to the key message of the film. He says: “When I read the script I could see that Tommy was quite like me and I thought Tommy felt nervous about the situation he was in.

He found it hard to speak out, just like me sometimes.

The filmmakers – led by award-winning director Anna Rodgers – note in the closing frames that “Under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, everyone should be presumed able to make decisions about their own life and be supported to do so. Action should only be taken when necessary, in a way that least restricts a person’s rights and reflects their wishes.”

Luca agrees emphatically: “Everybody is entitled to be in a relationship if they choose and also to make any decisions about their own life.”

Fiadhnait, speaking yesterday on Sunday with Miriam on RTÉ Radio One alongside director Anna, also spoke of the challenges highlighted by Tommy and her character Grace: “She has a fighting spirit… but her independence, she constantly has to fight for it.”

Some characters in Grace work to the spirit of the new legislation (which came into effect in 2023), helping their clients to cultivate the skills of “being assertive and using your voice to get what you want”. More often, however, Grace and Tommy are shut down with “I don’t think you could manage” and platitudes such as, “It’s for the best”. 

At one deeply affecting point, Grace is quite literally outside the room, trying to listen in as life-changing decisions are being made about her future. When one of her more supportive assistants suggests; “I wonder if we might talk about bringing Grace into the conversation”, the door is shut on Grace.

Aidan Stacey, CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland, welcomed the film in a post which applauded the telling of the story “with such care, dignity and honesty, and for helping to move understanding, awareness and inclusion forward”.

He said:

Grace is a beautifully told and hugely important piece of storytelling. It challenges long-held assumptions and brings the Assisted Decision-Making legislation to life in a way that is both accessible and deeply human.

While audiences get a chance to watch the film tonight, Luca is proud of what he and Fiadhnait have achieved with their performances. “This was my first experience acting in a film. I thought it was amazing and very exciting. And I felt very proud to be part of it. The film crew made me feel very at home.”

This is unlikely to be the last time we will see either actor; Fiadhnait is represented by the Morgan agency and has a certificate in psychology from Yale University. She wrote a short book entitled ‘In my own Words’ and speaks on the topic of exclusion and disability as well as organising an event called Second Chance Dance, for people who have been excluded from social events. She was inspired by her own experience of being excluded from her debs dance.

Luca spent four years acting with the Blue Diamond theatre group, plays the drums in a band, Venus Rox, with his mother Carena “Venus Rox” and is a former member of several marching bands. He is a member of the Special Olympics and competes in swimming, bowling and soccer.

“I think Fiadhnait and myself have proved that we can act just as well as anybody else. I will be registering with an agency soon and I hope that maybe some other work will come my way and I’d be very happy to consider it,” he says.

• Grace screens on RTÉ2 at 9.30pm tonight – Monday 15 December. It is written and directed by Anna Rodgers, produced by Nuala Carr and the executive producer is Zlata Filipovic, for Invisible Thread Films. 
• It is part of RTÉ Storyland, an initiative developed in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, which offers filmmakers the opportunity to tell impactful stories that reflect modern Ireland.