A FEAST OF IRISH FILMS
Róise & Frank, Directed by Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy, starring 90 minutes, Dublin 2022.
Spoiler Alert: This is a dog movie that doesn’t result in the death of the dog !
Róise & Frank is a gentle, endearing comedic film set in a quiet seaside village in County Waterford.
Róise was happily married to Frank for 40 years, and two years after his passing, she’s still in deep mourning for her beloved with her daily existence consisting of almost entirely of remembering and grieving.
But Róise’s joyless existence is soon turned upside down by the sudden entry of a stray little terrier into her life. After several remarkable coincidences Róise becomes convinced that this mysterious and pesky terrier is the canine embodiment of her much loved late husband, who we learn was a legendary Waterford hurling player and coach. It therefore makes perfect sense when Róise names the terrier Frank.
Hilarity ensues as canine Frank wins over those around Róise including her sceptical GP son, and a local schoolboy that lacks confidence with hurley and sliotar. Very soon it’s not only Róise that’s believing in this remarkable reincarnation.
Several familiar faces make up this ensemble cast, most notably Bríd Ní Neachtain, playing Róise, who’s best known for her role as the gossipy shopkeeper (Mrs O’Riordan) in The Banshees of Inisherin. For her portrayal of Róise, Brīd was awarded Best Lead Actress in a feature film at the 2023 Irish Film & Television Awards, where Róise & Frank also received nominations for Best Film, Best Director and in several other categories.
Bríd’s co-lead Frank is played by “Barley”, a seasoned canine thespian who’s appeared in multiple TV series’ including “Better Call Saul” and “Poldark” along with several feature films.
Regular collaborators Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy who share the credit for writing and direction are best known for their 2015 dystopian Irish thriller Traders. No doubt we’ll see this team move onto bigger projects given the recognition that Róise & Frank has received not only at the IFTA, but also at a number of international film festivals.
One significant aspect of Róise & Frank that I wanted to leave until last is that Róise & Frank has been produced entirely in Gaeilge. This extremely rare component, noteworthy for a feature film, is however superfluous to this heart-warming tale of healing, resilience, and community spirit weaved together by the magic of a charismatic and enthusiastic little terrier. This would remain as fine a film in English, Arabic or Icelandic.
An Irish Goodbye, reviewed by Brendan Corr
The award-winning short film An Irish Goodbye (2022) is a darkly comic tale of two brothers brought back together following the untimely death of their mother Grainne, voiced by Michelle Farley who is best known for playing Cat Stark in the Game of Thrones series. The phrase ‘An Irish Goodbye’ is slang for a guest leaving a party without saying goodbye to the host.
Turlough (Seamus O’Hara) has been living for many years in London, whilst Lorcan (James Martin) is a Downs Syndrome sufferer who remained on the family farm with their mother in rural Northern Ireland.
Lorcan is a seemingly competent and dedicated farmer who wants to remain on the family property, whilst Turlough wants to return to his life in London as soon as possible. Turlough doesn’t believe that his brother can look after himself and demands that Lorcan agree to go to live with their Auntie Margaret on the other side of Ireland.
The remarkable aspect of this film is the inclusion of Lorcan as a character with Downs Syndrome, played by an actor (Seamus O’Hara) with Downs Syndrome. His affliction and the patronising treatment from his brother is enlightening.
Soon after Grainne’s funeral, a ‘bucket list’ is handed to the brothers by Fr. O’Shea (Paddy Jenkins). This list consists of one hundred experiences that Grainne compiled but was seemingly unable to complete before her passing.
The brothers strike a deal – Lorcan will agree to go live with Auntie Margaret as long as the brothers complete the bucket list together, in tribute to their mother. Hilarious events ensue as the reluctant Turlough endures the challenges of the bucket list with the very enthusiastic Lorcan. There is a twist to the story which I won’t reveal.
We follow the brothers process their grief and deal with their differences as they celebrate the life of their suddenly departed mother. We see the brothers tethered together reluctantly in a mis-matched buddy pairing with the bucket list as a vehicle for them to learn more about each other and themselves. A terrific tale full of heart-warming craic, morning and growth crammed into a very short 23 minutes.
An Irish Goodbye has been recognised with many award nominations and awards, most notably winning the Best Short Film category at the Irish Film and Television Awards, the US Academy Awards and the BAFTAs, and is well worthy of viewing during the Irish Australian Film Festival.
Brendan Corr
Brendan Corr was conceived in Ireland and born in Melbourne soon after his Kilkenny/Monaghan parents arrived in 1968. Brendan was reared and educated in Melbourne, enjoyed a successful career in global finance and continues to live in Melbourne with his wife and young adult sons. Brendan is extremely proud of his Irish heritage and is well-versed in its music, literature, history and cinema. He plans to start spending more time in Ireland, and has recently commenced a study of Irish Gaelic.
Lakelands Review by Imelda Murphy
Lakelands, written produced and directed by Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney for Wildcard (1923).
Cian Reilly’s (Eanna Hardwicke) life seems simple. He wakes up early, enjoys the sunrise and gets on with the cows and the farm work. In the evening he goes to training at his local GAA club and loves the craic and banter. He looks happy with the different facets of his life. I could easily believe in the reality of the storyline (in contrast with, for example, the Banshees of Inisherin, which had no Irish being spoken in the pub, and people sitting outside in the cold in the 1920s in the west of Ireland). Lakelands emphasized the centrality of GAA Clubs in rural Ireland, but the downside is a high expectation to perform on the field. To be unsuccessful as a player is to be a nobody.
After training, when he should go home in preparation for the upcoming game, he goes for a pint with a couple of mates. This leads to going clubbing, and an argument leads to Cian getting bashed. This changes everything. We follow how Cian deals with it or rather doesn’t deal with his injury. He tries to ignore the concussion and get on with life. But due to his life being physical at work and play, he soon starts to feel the effects.
As it becomes obvious he can’t ignore it, he seeks a medical second opinion from an old friend, a nurse. Grace (Danielle Gilligan) has trained in England and returns to the Midlands to nurse her father. Cian found in Grace someone he could talk to. Grace is also having a tough time with her strained relationship with her father. Cian even went back to drinking MiWadi instead of pints. The film asks questions about the choices we make to stay home with a familiar community or to make a new life in new places.
We soon see in his relationships with his father, his coach, and his male friends a toughness, a masculinity that that is encouraged on the sports field or on the farm. But when Cian is watching the sunrise, nursing a sick cow, or talking to Grace, we see a different side, a kindness, a warmth. It becomes clear Cian is missing a supportive female influence, and that he can also be useful to her as a support for her as she needs help to deal with the loss of a tough father, and her disappointments with his failure to apologise for his drinking, and his inability to reconcile before his death.
Cian reinvents himself and takes the second chance he is offered. His life hasn’t turned out as he expected but he accepts a new future and maybe even shape a less toxic culture for the next generation of young footballers.
Lakelands is so beautifully set in Granard, Co. Longford. Written, produced and directed by Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney, it is about a small-town community, small stories, and small real-life dramas. But it is big, about the dangers of concussion, toxic masculinity, and the importance of real communication. It questions the need to persevere through injury. It is a story that could be set anywhere in the world about a person who must re-invent themself to continue. The scenery is beautiful. The characters are likeable. There are no stereotypical lines. It’s a subtle movie for everyone and I highly recommend it.
Imelda Murphy
Imelda is a Chef from County Waterford, Ireland. She moved to Australia in 1989. Her first job after her apprenticeship was working at a hotel in Waterford City. In Australia she worked at the Celtic Club, in Melbourne’s CBD, cooking for The Fury brothers, Jim Stynes and Irish politicians. Imelda is married to Terry, has three daughters and more recently a grandson. In her current role she is the on-site Chef for Smeg Australia, an Italian oven brand
Tinteán 