WHEN Marcia Rock was making a documentary called Sons of Derry in 1991, someone said to her: "Why are you bothering with yesterday's men. The story is with tomorrow's women."
This statement, said the American independent documentary producer and journalism professor, prompted her to make Daughters of the Troubles: Belfast Stories, which is broadcast on RTE's Prime Time tomorrow night.
The 54 minute film explores the past, present and future of women in Northern Ireland through the recollections, observations and aspirations of two working class Belfast women, one Protestant, one Catholic.
The script was co written by Ms Rock and a Belfast born journalist and writer, Jack Holland. It is narrated by the American actress Anjelica Huston.
The documentary is aptly broadcast at a time when women's contribution to social and political life in Northern Ireland is finally beginning to be recognised.
Ms May Blood, a Protestant who is prominent in the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, hits the nail on the head when she says in the film's opening sequence: "Women have held the line for the last 25 years both in the working situation and outside and I think women have now to utilise that strength."
Ms Blood shares a working class upbringing with her Catholic counterpart, Ms Geraldine O'Regan. Ms Blood was a union leader in a textile factory. Ms O'Regan's husband was interned in 1971.
In one scene, she tells how, while her husband was interned, she asked five men to help her fix a fuse. They all said it wasn't a problem, but six months later they hadn't fixed it. Eventually she fixed it herself, and from that moment realised that she had the ability to empower herself.
Through interviews with younger women, the film shows that the age old escape clause for workingclass women - teenage pregnancy - is still prevalent.
However, it also shows a new and burgeoning generation of women who are creating their own independence and challenging attempts to cast them in traditional roles.
"People say to me: is this film about the Troubles in Northern Ireland?" said Ms Rock. "I say it is about the changing role of women in Northern Ireland. The women are in the foreground, the Troubles in the background."
Daughters of The Troubles: Belfast Stories will be broadcast on RTE 1 at 9.30 a.m. tomorrow.