The Quiet Girl (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
'The Quiet Girl' (adapted from a short story & directed by Colm Bairead) is a wonderfully understated, emotionally impactful coming-of-age drama which focuses on Cait (Catherine Clinch, superb), a sensitive & introverted 9 yr. old who lives with her large family in the Irish countryside. She is, by nature, a loner who has created a quiet world of her own. Her overwhelmed, depressed and once-again pregnant mother (Kate Nic Chonaonaigh) & drunk/distant father (Michael Patric) have their hands full raising so many children. And so, to get a 'break', they send Cait away for the summer to live on a farm 3 hours away with her mother's older, wealthier, childless cousin, Eibhlin (Carrie Crowley, endearing), & her husband, Sean (Andrew Bennett).
Cait is wide-eyed at the beauty & the peacefullness of her mom's cousin's vast property, and also ... how warm & nurturing cousin Eibhlin is to her. Neglected back at home, Cait simply isn't used to the care & attention that Eibhlin affords her. To this, Cait blossoms & her outlook on life drastically changes for the better due to how tenderly she is treated for the 1st time. Eibhlin says that her house holds no secrets, and yet, Cait eventually learns of one very painful one. Before long, summer ends, and it is time for Cait to return home; much to the chagrin of everyone involved. So, what could be the solution? An utterly heartening final scene foretells the answer.
'The Quiet Girl' is nominated for Best International Film (the characters mostly speak Gaelic) at the Oscars, and I can certainly see why. What a beautiful, emotionally rich cinematic tapestry this is. Nothing 'big' happens plot-wise and, the pacing is leisurely to a fault ... but Cait {and her summer of emergent familial love} won me over; your patience will be rewarded. Upon watching Cait in those early days on the farm, her silence takes the soft-spoken couple some time to get used to, but Cait finds her way; adapting to the routines & rhythms of their lifestyle. Eibhlin calmly teaches Cait how to cook, while her husband gently trains her in farm chores. Even the simple acts of bathing, having her hair brushed at night, & getting new clothes lift Cait's spirits.
And when that painful household secret rears its head near the end of the film, instead of it potentially shattering the relationship btwn. Cait & the loving adults ... it shows just how caring & compassionate she is in return. 'The Quiet Girl' is a warm gem of a movie that gently washes over you like an Irish breeze. Cait's own parents are not overtly abusive, but she learns that being loved while being raised is so very important. And no matter what happens with Cait after the end credits roll, she will never forget this childhood experience & the genuine love she felt. The acting is captivating and, the simple-yet-affecting story about loneliness & finding connection packs a startling emotional wallop in the end -- it creeps up on you & then lingers.
Cait is wide-eyed at the beauty & the peacefullness of her mom's cousin's vast property, and also ... how warm & nurturing cousin Eibhlin is to her. Neglected back at home, Cait simply isn't used to the care & attention that Eibhlin affords her. To this, Cait blossoms & her outlook on life drastically changes for the better due to how tenderly she is treated for the 1st time. Eibhlin says that her house holds no secrets, and yet, Cait eventually learns of one very painful one. Before long, summer ends, and it is time for Cait to return home; much to the chagrin of everyone involved. So, what could be the solution? An utterly heartening final scene foretells the answer.
'The Quiet Girl' is nominated for Best International Film (the characters mostly speak Gaelic) at the Oscars, and I can certainly see why. What a beautiful, emotionally rich cinematic tapestry this is. Nothing 'big' happens plot-wise and, the pacing is leisurely to a fault ... but Cait {and her summer of emergent familial love} won me over; your patience will be rewarded. Upon watching Cait in those early days on the farm, her silence takes the soft-spoken couple some time to get used to, but Cait finds her way; adapting to the routines & rhythms of their lifestyle. Eibhlin calmly teaches Cait how to cook, while her husband gently trains her in farm chores. Even the simple acts of bathing, having her hair brushed at night, & getting new clothes lift Cait's spirits.
And when that painful household secret rears its head near the end of the film, instead of it potentially shattering the relationship btwn. Cait & the loving adults ... it shows just how caring & compassionate she is in return. 'The Quiet Girl' is a warm gem of a movie that gently washes over you like an Irish breeze. Cait's own parents are not overtly abusive, but she learns that being loved while being raised is so very important. And no matter what happens with Cait after the end credits roll, she will never forget this childhood experience & the genuine love she felt. The acting is captivating and, the simple-yet-affecting story about loneliness & finding connection packs a startling emotional wallop in the end -- it creeps up on you & then lingers.