“I found my voice now – a voice with murder as its means.” Something about the Irish experience has melded their idea of comedy with the darker side of life. (Note such films as Waking Ned Devine or last year’s Banshees of Inisherin.) That blend of humor and depressing may seem odd, but the two…
?We?re all God?s creatures in the dark.? Jesus? parable of the return of a prodigal son (Luke 15:11ff) is a complex tale of grace and of judgment. In the parable, we see the perspectives of the son, his father, and his brother. In God?s Creatures, directed by Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer, we get…
Set upon a fictional island off the coast of Ireland, The Banshees of Inisherin tells the story of Padraic (Colin Farrell), a man who spends his days caring for the sheep and chatting with his pal Colm (Brendan Gleeson) at the local pub. But today is different. When Colm won?t answer his calls for their daily pint,…
Set in a small-town in Ireland,?A Bump Along the Way?tells the story of Pamela (Bronagh Gallagher), a 44-year old woman who has her priorities out of order. Despite caring for her teenage daughter Allegra (Lola Petticrew), Pamela spends her nights partying and has difficulty making ends meet. When a one-night-stand results in a pregnancy, Pamela…
?It?s the first right thing I do for him, and it?s the last.? Doing the right thing is central to Aoife Crehan?s premier feature film The Last Right. But right for whom? And how do we judge the right among multiple values that all have a claim as right? Daniel Murphy (Michael Huisman) is a…
?I can?t help thinking that somehow if you?d managed to hold on to me, I?d be living a different life right now. I?d be a different person?perhaps the person I was really meant to be?the real me.? The psychological drama Rose Plays Julie, directed by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawler, is the story of a…
Set in the foothills of Ireland, Wild Mountain Thyme tells the story of Rosemary Muldoon (Emily Blunt), a strong-willed farmer who yearns to win the heart of her emotionally-stunted neighbour, Anthony Reilly (Jamie Dornan). Struggling to commit to his role in the family farm, Anthony also struggles to take a risk with his feelings for his beautiful…
?I?m afraid one day you?ll end up in a cage. ?I?m already in a cage!? Wolfwalkers is the third offering from Cartoon Saloon that focuses on Irish folklore. Like the earlier films, Secret of the Kells and Song of the Sea, this is a brilliantly artistic animated film. The film is directed by Tomm Moore…
Going to festivals often results in a bit of emotional whiplash. My Saturday viewing at AFIFest 2020 Presented by Audi is an example of that. From stories about executions to animated folklore to the angst of a recovering addict heavy metal drummer who suddenly loses his hearing. It is a day of very strong reactions….
Since I’m not a huge fan of the Artemis Fowl series, I’ve decided to allow someone who is the ability to share their thoughts. In this case, it’s my daughter Rebecca. Here’s what she had to say . . . I started reading the Artemis Fowl series one day in my sophomore year of high…
