in the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre
November 4, 2023 at 2:00pm
While Brian Friel’s Translations tells the story of British colonialism’s efforts to suppress Irish culture, it is our pleasure to present a film in the Irish language that survived.
Join us after the screening for a talkback with Irish Language expert Caoimhe Nic Giollarnáith.
The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin) is an Oscar-nominated multi-award-winning Irish Language film, written/directed by Colm Bairéad, based on Foster by Claire Keegan (Small Things like These).
Cáit is a nine-year-old girl from an over-crowded, dysfunctional and impoverished family. Quietly struggling at school and at home, she has learnt to hide in plain sight from those around her. As summer arrives and her pregnant mother’s due date approaches, Cáit (Catherine Clinch) is sent to live with distant relatives. Without knowing when she will return home, she is left at the strangers’ house with only the clothes she is wearing. The Kinsellas, a middle-aged couple she has never met, dress the girl in what clothes they have.
They are farming people, like her own, but hard-working and wanting for nothing, it seems. Despite a warm reception from the woman, Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley), the man of the house, Seán (Andrew Bennett), keeps his distance from Cáit and she from him, but over time, their strained relationship begins to deepen. Slowly, in the care of the Kinsellas, Cáit blossoms and discovers a new way of living. But in this house where affection grows and there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one painful truth.
An Irish Goodbye
An Irish Goodbye is a 2022 short film written, produced, and directed by Tom Berkeley and Ross White. The film stars James Martin, Seamus O’Hara, Paddy Jenkins and Michelle Fairley.
Winner of the 2023 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
Set against the backdrop of a working farm in rural Northern Ireland, An Irish Goodbye is a black comedy following the reunion of estranged brothers Turlough and Lorcan following the untimely death of their mother. Under the watchful eye of odd-ball parish priest Father O’Shea, the brothers’ pained reunion is worsened by the fact Turlough must now make new care arrangements for Lorcan, who has Down Syndrome. A robust and dedicated farmer, Lorcan’s dream of continuing to work the land he grew up on is thwarted when Turlough decides he’s sending him to live with their Aunt on the other side of Ireland. But when the brothers discover an unfulfilled bucket list belonging to their late mother, Lorcan senses an opportunity: he’ll only agree to leave the farm once he and Turlough have themselves completed every single wish on their mother’s list… … all one-hundred of them.
This screening is presented in association with the Irish Film Institute’s IFI International programme, supported by Culture Ireland, and distributors Super Ltd and Network Ireland Television.