Just days before its world premiere, the documentary The Slightest Touch captures the emotional journey of Emma Fogarty and Colin Farrell related to their participation in the Dublin Marathon. This film highlights their shared experience during the marathon, the struggles Emma faces living with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), and their mission to raise funds and awareness for Debra Ireland, the charity dedicated to supporting people with this rare skin condition.
Colin Farrell Dublin Marathon moments became a symbol of hope, courage, and community support as Emma joined Colin for the marathon’s final 4 kilometers in a wheelchair, with Colin pushing her over the finish line. Their goal was to raise €400,000, but overwhelming public backing resulted in over €1 million being collected for Debra Ireland.
The Marathon Experience and Its Impact on the Community
The Dublin Marathon event brought thousands of supporters who cheered Emma and Colin onward, creating an unforgettable atmosphere that deeply touched both of them. More than a year later, the public’s enthusiasm remains vivid in their memories. Emma expressed the profound affection they experienced during their journey:
“You never felt love like it,”
she said, emphasizing the collective spirit felt by all participants.
“Whoever was running that marathon, they all felt the love, I hope they did — I certainly felt it.”
The final moments of the marathon were particularly moving for Emma as she crossed the finish line alongside Colin. She described the scene as one that left an indelible mark on her life:
Image of: Colin Farrell
“It was just the most special moment, and definitely a moment I will take to my last breath.”
Colin Farrell reflected on the overwhelming honor the experience represented in his career:
“That’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me in my career,”
he said. He also shared his excitement for the documentary’s premiere in their homecountry, stating:
“Joe Duffy’s number one moment of the year — seriously. The film feels like a bit of a tribute to the spirit of our people, as much as to the friendship that Emma and I share. To come home and celebrate and have the world premiere there — there couldn’t be any more right turn of events than how it’s being played out. The story was born of the country, and it should premiere in the country.”
The Documentary’s Intimate Look at Life with Epidermolysis Bullosa
Filmed in the lead-up to the marathon, The Slightest Touch will have its world premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival, featuring Emma, Colin, and the filmmakers. The documentary reveals not only their marathon journey but also the evolution of their friendship and the challenges Emma faces living with EB. This condition causes extreme fragility of the skin, likened to butterfly wings, and has resulted in Emma using a wheelchair and experiencing fusion of her fingers due to scar tissue.
The film explores how music has provided emotional comfort to Emma, highlighting songs by artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay. One notable moment in the documentary features Taylor Swift’s song “Don’t Blame Me.” Remarkably, Swift granted permission for its use without requiring a fee shortly after being approached for approval.
Colin shared the swift response from the singer:
“Taylor is someone who would be very in control of all of her stuff,”
he explained.
“As Em knows, we sent Taylor over the scene where her music features, and also the whole film. And within 48 hours, we got back a note saying: it’s yours.”
This gesture deeply moved Emma, a devoted Swift fan, who said:
“Even if she only watched the three minutes, it was amazing to know that she saw me in the bed, she saw the bandages. She saw my hands, and me trying to hold the phone just to sing along to her song. She saw some degree of EB for three minutes — and that is great.”
A Friendship Strengthened Through Adversity
Emma and Colin’s friendship spans 16 years, having first connected at a charity dinner for Debra Ireland. Their relationship has grown stronger over time, especially through Emma’s health struggles. She particularly remembers when she lost her leg following a skin cancer diagnosis in 2019, which completely altered her life. Emma credits Colin for his unwavering support during this difficult period, noting how he reached out regularly with genuine concern for her mental well-being.
Emma explained:
“He was the one who rang me a couple of times, and was like: ‘How’s your head? How are you doing? and talked me through it. There’s such a stigma still about your mental health,”
she added, describing how Colin’s simple check-ins meant a great deal.
“There was just something about Colin that I thought I can trust him. I can trust him.”
Colin values this friendship immensely and admires Emma’s resilience despite the challenges she endures.
“Emma has, on paper and in reality, more reason to feel shite than anyone else I’ve ever met,”
he acknowledged.
Filmmaker’s Perspective and the Making of the Documentary
Director Rachel Fleit, known for her sensitive documentaries such as the film about Selma Blair, embarked on this project after meeting Colin and Emma. She aimed to authentically convey Emma’s story and the harsh realities of living with EB. Fleit emphasized the collaboration with Dublin City Marathon organizers and detailed the efforts to capture the event’s emotional essence.
She described the filming process:
“I did run the last four kilometres with my cinematographer, and we used a tiny camera to capture as much as we could. We had cameras rigged on the wheelchair, and we had cameras rigged on the runners that were running around Colin.”
Fleit aimed to make viewers feel immersed in those defining moments, stating:
“When we worked on the score and the sound mix of the film I tried to recreate the feeling of that last four kilometres, so when you’re in the theatre, or even at home, I hope that you can experience some of that atmosphere.”
Shedding Light on the Realities of Epidermolysis Bullosa
Throughout the film, Emma candidly shows the physical toll EB takes on her life, including the regular process of changing her bandages, a striking illustration of the condition’s cruelty. She believes showing these moments is essential to helping the public understand EB beyond words. Emma said:
“I think you could explain EB very well. You can throw out all the words about EB in the world. You can say every word about how awful it is, how cruel it is. But seeing them is a totally different thing. When you see them, you go, oh shit. This is real. It was really hard, but I wanted the world, hopefully, to see it and to see how evil this thing is.”
Emma highlighted the importance of public health nurses in her care, explaining that their support keeps her out of hospital and helps identify when her condition worsens. However, she warns that not all patients receive such care and calls for increased government support to ensure dedicated nurses are available for everyone affected by EB in Ireland.
Colin supports her appeal and stressed the need to ease the burden on families and caregivers, especially those who perform demanding tasks like bandage changes. He said:
“We’ll push again, and hopefully the film can begin to move the needle again in the right direction, and we can tackle it anew.”
Upcoming Premiere and Broader Availability of the Film
Backed by Screen Ireland, The Slightest Touch makes its world premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival tonight at a sold-out screening at The Lighthouse. The documentary will later appear on HBO and stream globally via HBO Max, including new services in the UK and Ireland. Emma’s memoir, Being Emma: Living My Best Life with Butterfly Skin, is also available, offering readers an expanded view of her experiences.
