Sanctuary

The film is adapted out of an original play that sold out during Galway Arts Festival 2 years ago. I really enjoyed the play initially and when I heard that it was to be adapted to a film I thought that it was a really good Idea. Rita (my baby sister) was really excited about working with all her buddies in Blue Teapot and acting which all our family knows comes extremely natural to her. However she didn't tell us anything about the script and told us to wait until it was produced. As the Film Fleadh approached we got our tickets and looked forward to the night. We were going to support our sister and her buddies as we had always done as we knew the work that Blue Teapot does is extremely important. What followed for the next hour and twenty seven minutes was a mixture of laughter and realisation of the real issues that affect people with intellectual disabilities. What you experienced if you'd seen the play was the director exploring the characters, each in their own little way and pushing the boundaries of what we who don't have a recognised intellectual disability see as completely normal. What you witnessed if you hadn't seen the play was a comedy that made you laugh out loud all through the film and again outside when you reviewed the various aspects with the fellow audience members. Even though its listed as a comedy the real underlining message of the original play was not lost, well done Christian O Reilly & Len Collin.

I met a colleague of mine after the show who had never seen the play or knew nothing about the cast or history, as we spoke it was on my mind that my bias was shadowing my review so I asked her what she thought, I was pleasantly surprised that she was absolutely blown away by the experience and I have no doubt you will too!

I was lucky enough to see this film at the Galway Film Fleadh. Even taking into account the home atmosphere, this was a very special film on a very special night. It is laugh out loud funny, but also very moving.

The plot involves a guy called Larry, who has Down's Syndrome (played by Kieran Coppinger) and his girlfriend Sophie (Charlene Kelly) who has epilepsy and their attempts to have a romantic few hours in a hotel room, which has been organised by their care worker Tom (Robert Doherty).

The trouble is it all takes place during an organised trip to the cinema for a group of people with Learning Disabilities. So mayhem ensues when Tom fails to return quickly and his other charges have disappeared – escaping the cinema to explore their own freedoms. The two guys in the pub are particularly funny - kind of like the two old men in the Muppets. There's a great scene at the pick n mix… and Larry and Sophie will have you laughing and crying in equal measure. Yet at no time does it veer into the world of farce; that would have done the film a gross injustice.

The ending is not quite what I expected: my partner thought it was too sudden, but I thought it was just right. It leaves you wanting more. In fact the whole film was not quite what I expected. The cast are mainly actors with Down's or Autism and they are superb. Their performances have an honesty and truth about them that seems lacking in many performances. It is an unusual film for sure; but well worth your time if you get to see it. The soundtrack is great. It's well directed and credit to the writer for a very funny and moving script.

A wonderful film that makes you laugh out loud and seriously consider the way you view the world of intellectual disability. I didn't quite know what to expect when I arrived at The Lighthouse cinema to see Sanctuary, and found myself a bit nervous when I sat down and the film started. A rom-com about people with intellectual disabilities isn't exactly a common film theme. Within a few minutes, the comedy of the film (due to both a great script and a great cast) relaxed me, and I found myself laughing out loud. Would absolutely recommend for anyone looking for a rom-com that's different and genuinely hilarious.

Sanctuary explores the taboo subject of people with intellectual disabilities and sex. While some parts are heavy-handed, others will return to you over and over by the end of the film.

Like how vulnerable these people are, but where do you draw the line between treating them like children and treating them like adults?

It is heartbreaking in how it brings you in to the world of these characters, whose actors don't go home with a big pay-cheque and go on with their lives. This is their lives. These are the problems and struggles they deal with every day.

It jumps genre between drama and comedy better than I've seen most Hollywood films doing.

Watch it, please. It will break you, but you'll love it for it.

I really enjoyed this movie, there are great characters it and some of the lines they come out with are so funny. It might deal with social issues but like any good movie enjoying it just takes over. It's much funnier than some of the comedies I've seen this year and it really needs more distribution for more people to see it. Its a great movie, if you like Irish movies and a good laugh I really recommend going to see it.