An Irish Angel

One of the things this film does exceptionally well is give us a snapshot of the experiences Aine 'Niamh James' has, while still filling each moment with so much meaning and emotion. This is not a film about a teenager actively going through the world, it is about being in your 30's and looking back at your teenage youth. An Irish Angel does not rest on any single experience for very long and this is because when we remember our youth, we don't remember everything, and we don't remember all the sides to the story, we just remember how the door slammed and everything went silent or how we used to stare longingly at the dream house a few streets away, wishing it were ours. The criticism that this film touches on too much and discusses too little, is a misconception that this is a play by play of a young woman forced into being an adult. This is how life is remembered, in moments, slivers, glances. More over, Danny Patrick creates a female lead character that is at once self-conscious and determined. She does not wilt or waver in her goals even despite the mistakes she's made. Aine is a new female lead that does not ask "what will I do now?" when something goes wrong. She simply keeps going, until she arrives.

I found An Irish Angel to be a sweet, charming coming-of-age film. It is a serious film, but with flashes of humor. Danny Patrick wrote and directed the film which seemed to be partly autobiographical in that he grew up in Ireland about the same time as her character. The film is a meditation on what it means to be from some place and what that idea of home means in shaping who you become.

Aine 'Niamh James' has a love-hate relationship with her town, her family and her place in both. It is also very much a story of young girl struggling with her own and her mother's expectations for herself. The script is really charming with the best scenes being those of Aine and her mother played by 'Amanda Doherty'.

Aine is struggling with her secret pregnancy, family, friendship, religion all at the same time. Like all of us, she is trying to find her place in the world. Niamh James is excellent as Ained as is Amanda Doherty in the role of her haggard struggling mother trying to hold her family together through difficult times. Recommended to those who like drama, particularly coming-of-age films.

This engaging dramatic-comedy from Danny Patrick is an absolute gem and one of the best independent films that has come out for a while. There are a number of divergent plot lines intricately woven, which culminate together in a highly climactic way, but the film still manages to maintain its charm and simplicity throughout. An Irish Angel works on a number of different levels, but foremost as an entertaining rites-of-passage teen movie, with numerous sophisticated elements that raise the movie well above its situated genre - especially the very cleverly conceived dream sequences that lend the movie an interesting art house feel.

The main story thread follows teenager Aine, expertly played by newcomer Niamh James, who is struggling to come to terms with what exactly she is going to do about her unplanned pregnancy - which resulted from an unwise short-term fling with her school's "King of Cool" (who happens to be the boyfriend of her best friend, Corinna). She finds that the people in her life, including those she turns to for help, have confusingly different perspectives on what she should do, which only adds to her anxiety; but an encounter with an old priest, Fr Reital (warmly played by veteran English actor Julian Glover) triggers her entrance into a spiritual dreamscape where she explores her life dilemmas with a mysterious Christ-like figure - who just happens to look uncannily like her grumpy school caretaker, who everyone calls "The Strap" (brilliantly played by Shane Robinson). It's an example of how Patrick mixes kitchen sink drama with off-the-wall artistic vision in a combination which always intrigues.

What really steals the show, however, is the exuberant performance of another young newcomer, Todd Bell, as Aine's school-friend and sidekick, Leo - a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, who aspires to be a famous actor. He gains the lead role as "Pulcinella" in the school play of the same name, directed by the school's liberal drama teacher, Ellie (Jamie Winstone - who seems made the part), and "Pulcinella" provides the movie with a number of apt thematic tropes as we go on. As the various plotlines develop, we follow the school rehearsals of the play, which constitutes an amusing parody of an Elizabethan drama (based on a 18th century Italian ballet), whose pseudo-Shakespearean dialogue seems to have been expressly created for the purpose by Patrick. Much of the comedy comes from Leo's wide-eyed aspirations for fame, and to make it with the play's leading lady (Aine's good-looking best-friend Corinna), which conflicts with the gritty reality of his life - especially as he becomes embroiled in the crazy schemes of an incompetent band of local wannabe gangsters, led by his brother Padraig (the gloriously tattooed Baz Back). This latter plotline ultimately leads to high drama, tragedy and pathos, and is important to the life-affirming conclusion to the movie.

Altogether this is a funny, dramatic, and, at times, emotively profound movie, that punches far above its weight and is well worth taking a chance on.

As far as coming of age movies go. I most certainly feel like this is a complete and total winner. The acting and performances especially from Todd Bell as Leo and the lead Aine was wonderful.

The Story line whilst familiar was handled incredibly well, should I say fantastic! I fell that I just had to give it the kudos it deserves. Thanks to the people who made this possible, for an independent movie it took a lot of risks which paid off.

It felt so real and so satisfying to see the all of the story threads coming together. Very Emotional at times and occasionally silly. Loved it!

Thanks again to the creators.

'An Irish Angel' is a tale of angst, stress and a strive for acceptance. The themes in 'Angel' are common ones that many young adults can identify with during the confusing, competitive high school years. At the center of the film is Niamh James 'Aine' title character (pronounced Onya), who struggles with her inner demons now that she's pregnant, whilst hiding the fact from her mother, Margaret (Amanda Doherty). This secret dominates the entire film and even when its out, helps us understand how one's environment growing up can have a major impact on their choices in life.

The premise offers director Danny Patrick a lot to work with, and his signature comedic, dramedy tone is a constant throughout 'Angel.' Everything from the way scenes are shot to the quirky music are dripping with proverbial eye rolls, and they all work. Sure, there are a few moments that could cause general audiences gasp, but most of them are done in a way that is not mean-spirited or in poor taste. Aside from Niamh's A+ performance, others in the supporting cast don't disappoint, from Jaime Winstone to Julian Glover's priest.

'An Irish Angel' has the building blocks to become a cult classic for this generation.