The Quiet Girl

This is a calmly revealed story of the many faces of love. The directing, the pacing, the cinematography and the acting are all world-class. The character development of the three protagonists is awesome. The film is so endearing that you just want to live in this world.

The best Irish film (whatever that means) ever made? Based on Claire Keegan’s exceptional ‘long short story’, The Quiet Girl’s ably adapted, and translated into the Irish language, by first-time feature-filmmaker Bairéad. It succeeds through his assured direction, Kate McCullough’s stunning cinematography, and a very strong Irish cast and crew, not least the young Catherine Clinch. Neglected by her immediate family, and her time, Cáit is fostered by distant relatives. She returns transformed. The film’s sacramental and incarnational, with a world charged with loss and love. It ends with a prayer-of-sorts. And hope. Better than The Quiet Man (no relation).

<em>'The Quiet Girl'</em> made me sad, and not even the good kind of sad. I know there's the coming-of-age angle to focus on, but man that kid's life simply wouldn't be any better than the taster she got - and that makes me unhappy. Nice when a film makes you feel things, of course. Welled up, I was. It's the sorta flick where you just sit with the credits, which at midnight in a quiet place certainly hits a little different than it would otherwise. Catherine Clinch is fantastic as young Cáit, while Carrie Crowley and Andrew Bennett are supremely effective as Eibhlín & Seán. Such a simple, yet impactful story. Merits more eyes.