The Quiet Girl

It is not so unusual to witness family situations in which parents treat their children as burdens, oblivious to their responsibility for bringing them into the world. Or of the reason why they did it. The discourse on parenting is precisely the film's pivotal element, and it is carried out gracefully. The Quite Girl is not an original film, or particularly entertaining, but it succeeds in offering a perfectly constructed story from beginning to end. It certainly conveys a great love for cinema and its language, this in the attention and subtle use of detail, in the beautiful cinematography and in the image construction. An outstanding piece of work indeed.

Don't expect revelations, or furious action, or debauchery and violence. This is a slow burner but I sat rapt from the start til the closing credits.

There is so little dialogue, and yet more said than most films despite the paucity of words. Some of the scenes are like art. You want to stop the film and just look at it. It says so much in one shot or one scene, even if nothing is said.

The main star of the film is Catherine Clinch who has never been on screen before. But the entire film uses her as a foundation and she shoulders it perfectly. She only had to move her head, or her eyes, or close her mouth and instantly you knew what she was feeling.

And that's what the film's about, feeling. I believe the story will resonate with every single person who sees it.

It will also leave you desperate to know more, what happened afterwards, the feeling is in the pit of your stomach as the scene fades and the credits roll.

This film will be in time, a classic.

Based on the renowned story, Foster, by Claire Keegan, THE QUIET GIRL is an exquisite and heart-wrenching Irish drama set in 1981. The film follows 11-year-old girl, Cáit (Catherine Clinch) who is sent to live with foster parents for the summer after her dysfunctional family life becomes too much to handle. Maeve quickly falls in love with the bucolic setting and her foster parents but discovers a troubling secret that threatens to destroy the idyllic world she has found herself in.

THE QUIET GIRL is an incredibly moving film that deals with some very heavy themes in a sensitive and beautiful way. Director Colm Bairéad has crafted a visually stunning film that is anchored by amazing performances, especially from Clinch who is a revelation in the lead role. It is slow-paced and consistently riveting, with a payoff that is both devastating and beautiful. It has won many awards and has become the highest grossing Irish-language film of all time.

THE QUIET GIRL is a must-see movie for anyone who appreciates great filmmaking. It is a beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful film that will leave you deeply affected. Highly recommended.

I start with the story. This movie is an eye-opening wonderfully made piece of art about the most precious things in life. The movie demonstrates the importance of kindness, love, and care which you may not be aware of unless you lose them. That is one aspect of the story. Another important aspect of the story is children's problems in integrating with the environment, even with their own family, based on their personality. To have a different personality could be hard and gets amplified in a toxic family. The aspect of a toxic family, especially toxic parents has been presented as masterfully as possible. I won't explain the details to avoid spoiling the movie.

Storytelling is straight. Minimum metaphors and vague scenes have been filmed, maybe zero. Also, the movie does not include any form of parent love cliches which is a strong point in my opinion. You hardly find any unnecessary moments in the film and the scenes are sequenced perfectly. However, there could be some extra time for the girl's biological family. Other than that, everything is great. The story will get you right to the end which is emotional and lovely.

The cinematography is perfect as well. Excellent facial close-ups and sceneries help build up the atmosphere for different parts of the story. The performance is superb. You will accept the actors as their characters without doubt and cannot expect a better performance or cast. Especially the little girl is excellent.

Writer-Director Colm Bairead's tender, deceptively simple adaptation of Claire Keegan's short story is a beautifully told tale. Set in the early 80s in Ireland, QUIET GIRL tells of a shy young girl, Cait (Catherine Clinch), who is sent away by her financially strapped parents for the summer while her family prepares for a baby to be born. Her Da (Michael Patric) calls Cait 'the wanderer' for her tendency to withdraw and to go off by herself. Cait stays with Ma's (Kat Nic Chonaonaigh) older cousin Eibhlin (Carrie Crowley) who lives with her husband Sean (Andrew Bennett).

Cait's natural introvertedness combined with the new surroundings makes for an uneasy transition. Over time, Eibhlin and Sean slowly break down that wall and they start to bond. Eibhlin and Sean are also firmly middle-class which further softens the awkward surroundings for the young girl who they endearingly call 'pet'. The surrogate parents assure Cait that there are no 'secrets' in their home. It's to the film's credit that when that promise is broken, it's done in a most gentle yet illuminating manner.

Bairead's spare but finely observed writing and direction is ably matched with the cast, in particular Crowley and Bennett who give sublty effective performances. Clinch perfectly suits the title role with an uncommon sense of stillness when necessary, while also being able to deliver in the more emotional ones. The movie is framed in the old fashioned 1:37 aspect ratio to suit the intimacy of the story, while still giving room to show the picturesque Irish landscape during the long drives to and from the two homes.

THE QUIET GIRL may, at times, feel a bit slight, but, be careful, it shall sneak up on you if allow it to unfold at its own lovely pace. It's a story that stealthily becomes so much more deeply felt that what's appears on the surface.