7.5
A quiet, neglected girl is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with relatives for the summer. She blossoms in their care, but in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one.
Catherine Clinch
Cáit
Carrie Crowley
Eibhlín
Andrew Bennett
Seán
Michael Patric
Da
Kate Nic Chonaonaigh
Mam
Joan Sheehy
Úna
Tara Faughnan
Sorcha
Neans Nic Dhonncha
Gráinne
Eabha Ni Chonaola
Aoife
Carolyn Bracken
The Woman
Pádraig Ó Se
Mac Gearailt
Breandán Ó Duinnshleibhe
Ó Cathasaigh
Séan O Suilleabhain
Ó Floinn
Aine Hayden
Dress Shop Assistant
Elaine O'Hara
Aine
Marion O'Dwyer
Brid
Jessica Joannides
Leathchupla Cháit
Roise Crowley
Sioban
Grainne Gillespie
Sinead
Norette Leahy
Múinteoir Deirdre
Rian Bairéad
Michael
Director, Screenplay
Colm Bairéad
Novel
Claire Keegan
February 12, 2023
7
Catherine Clinch is great here as the subdued but curious "Cáit". With her mother expecting a baby soon, she is shipped off to stay with farmers "Eibhlín" (Carrie Crowley) and her husband "Seán" (Andrew Bennett). Whilst the mother is openly welcoming, the father is more reticent as the young girl has to come to terms with her new surroundings. Now it's fair to say that her real parents care for her, they are not bad people - but she had been left very much to her own devices and as such, arrives here shy and retiring. "Eibhlin" is determined that she relaxes and fits in, and makes clear that there are no secrets and that openness and honesty must be the order of the day. Thing is, though, as "Cáit" meets local people, she discovers that the family she lives with are keeping one whopping great secret. Could the exposure of that secret bring the three of them more closely together? It's a beautifully shot and gently paced feature, this, with a paucity of extraneous dialogue that allows the characters to breathe and develop. The story is simply uncomplicated with a minimum of sentiment and melodrama, but still serves to provide us with an observation of love - in it's many guises - as well as despair and optimism too. Michael Patric's performance as the rather uncouth "Da" (he stubs his cigarette end out on his dinner plate) is also worth noting - he helps to put quite a bit of context into the attitude and behaviour of his young daughter. I wasn't sold on this when I sat down to watch it, but it is certainly worth a hour and a half of anyone's time.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
Irish
Budget:
$1.00
Revenue:
$6.00