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BBC ALBA

Oidhche Shàmhach/A Quiet Night

Documentaries

Factual: Disability

Oidhche Shàmhach

24/12/2017

BBC ALBA - Oidhche Shàmhach/A Quiet Night

Isle of Harris siblings share silent Christmas memories.

Piuthar is bràthair às na Hearadh a' cuimhneachadh mu Nollaig an òige. A poignant insight into the silent, shared world of elderly deaf siblings from the Isle of Harris.

Bhuannaich am film Oidhche Shàmhach duais aig farpais FilmG ann an 2012. Tha e a' toirt sealladh àlainn dhuinn de phiuthar is bràthair às na Hearadh, na dithis aca gun chlaisneachd, a' cuimhneachadh mu na Nollaigean a dh'fhalbh. Anns an fhilm tha piuthar is bràthair Chrissie Nicleòid (nach maireann) agus John Norman Macleòid (nach maireann) a' cleachdadh BSL agus litreachadh-òrdaig gus còmhradh. Bha an dithis aca còrr air ceithir fichead bliadhna a dh'aois nuair a chaidh am filmeadh. Tha iad nan suidhe ri taobh teine beag halogen, a' cuimhneachadh air na Nollaigean a dh'fhalbh anns an Tairbeart, far an robh an dithis aca a' fuireach còmhla. Ged a rugadh iad ann an coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig, 's ann a rinn an dithis aca an àirde dòigh conaltraidh eatorra - a' cleachdadh measgachadh de BhSL, litreachadh-òrdaig agus am 'patios' aca fhèin. Tha e a' toirt fainear dhuinn na bannan conaltraidh sònraichte a tha eadar piuthar is bràthair. Ged a tha fo-thiotalan ann, thuigear na thathar ag ràdh, ge bith dè a' chànan a th' againn.

Award-winning Oidhche Shàmhach - A Quiet Night offers a poignant insight into the silent, shared world of elderly deaf siblings from the Isle of Harris on the Eve of Christmas. Octogenarians Chrissie and John Norman MacLeod share memories of the festive season from beside the small halogen fire at their shared home in Tarbert.

Though born into a large family in the heart of a Gaelic-speaking community, the siblings never knew a word of the language. But over their lives they have developed a language of their own: a mix of British Sign Language, old fashioned finger spelling and their own unique "patois." The film serves as testament to the special bond of communication between brother and sister.

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Oidhche Shàmhach/A Quiet Night

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