Happy March! In honor of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday, we thought we would compile a list of some great films that are about Ireland, that focus on Irish characters, or are by Irish filmmakers. Enjoy!
“Brooklyn” (2015): A charming romance about a young Irish woman who emigrates to America in the 1950’s and finds romance with a young Italian man. When tragedy unexpectedly strikes, she must return home and is forced to choose between her country and the man she loves. This romance never feels fake or forced. It truly feels like an honest portrayal of love. It’s vibrant and colorful, and it is loaded with gorgeous cinematography. Saoirse Ronan puts on a fabulous Oscar nominated performance in the leading role. 5/5
“The Crying Game” (1992): An IRA terrorist befriends the British soldier his group kidnapped and eventually gets sucked into his life. He even falls for the soldier’s girl, but is in for a shock when he uncovers the truth. This engaging dramatic romance is full of twists and turns that were quite shocking when the film was first released. It’s an enthralling story with brilliant acting from Stephen Rea, Jay Davidson, and Forest Whitaker. This best picture nominated film is certainly worth checking out for those with an open mind. 4/5
“Darby O’Gill and the Little People” (1959): A caretaker known for spinning yarns catches the King of the Leprechauns and uses him to grant wishes and play matchmaker for his daughter. Overall, this film is very lighthearted and a joy to watch any time, but is even more fun on St. Patrick’s Day. There is enjoyable music and an interesting mythology behind it, as well as a great story and some funny moments, too. An excellent family film! 3.5/5
“In the Name of the Father” (1993): A man and his father are imprisoned after he is forced to confess to an IRA bombing he did not commit. It’s a compelling film about the fight to free a wrongfully imprisoned man. Daniel Day-Lewis is phenomenal, as are Pete Postlethwaite and Emma Thompson, who all earned Oscar nominations for their roles. This gripping drama and best picture nominee will keep you captivated from start to finish. 5/5
“Once” (2007): “Once” couldn’t be more simple. It’s about two people forming a bond over their mutual love of music. There is a real level of honesty to what happens between the two main characters, even though much of what goes on is unspoken. We really love this sweet, emotionally compelling story with its fantastic music and its smile-inducing, tear-producing existence. 5/5
“Sing Street” (2016): An Irish teen decides to form a band in order to impress a girl he has a crush on and surprisingly finds he has a talent for making music. This is an outstanding movie about finding yourself, pursuing your dreams, and understanding your place through the power of music. It’s the kind of film that has everything going for it and very little going against it. We absolutely love this movie and it was one of our favorites of 2016. 5/5
“Song of the Sea” (2015): An animated film with an original story inspired by Irish and Scottish folklore. There are a lot of cute, quirky, funny moments here, but where it really shines is its heart. The movie manages to blossom from a simplistic story into both a visually beautiful and emotionally deep film. It also has a really great song that is sure to get stuck in your head for days. 4/5
“Waking Ned Devine” (1998): When a man in a small Irish town wins the lottery, but dies before he can collect, some members of his 52 person community devise a plan to claim the winnings. This is a funny, offbeat, and slightly dark comedy that has a lot of heart as well. It manages to somehow make death and fraud, two very negative topics, surprisingly comical. The humor won’t be for everyone, but if you keep an open mind, we think you will be surprised. It’s a quaint, charming flick that shouldn’t be missed. 3.5/5
SLÁINTE!!!
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