Saoirse Ronan and Hozier have teamed up to front a campaign shedding light on domestic violence.
The Oscar-nominated actress appears in the video for the singer’s song Cherry Wine, which was released on Valentine’s Day.
Irishman Hozier, known for his hit Take Me To Church, also released Cherry Wine on iTunes to benefit domestic abuse charities worldwide including Women’s Aid in the UK.
The video sees Ronan, who is up for best actress at the Academy Awards for her role in Brooklyn, in a moving portrayal of a woman dealing with a physically abusive relationship.
The clip also stars actor Moe Dunford, from Vikings, and is directed by Emmy-winning director Dearbhla Walsh, in a project which involves some of Ireland’s biggest names.
Cherry Wine was written by Hozier from the male perspective of an abuse sufferer.
The song’s lyrics offer an insight into an abusive relationship, shining a light on the cycle of justification often perpetuated in domestic violence incidents, which public health experts say controls the abused, shames the victim, and shifts responsibility for the abuser’s violent behaviour.
Speaking about the campaign, Hozier said: “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.
“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.”
Ronan added: “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. 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.”
take a look at the video below.