Why we picked it – The film Cillian Murphy chose to make after winning the Best Actor Oscar for Oppenheimer. Got to be interesting.

Synopsis – Christmas approaches. Coal merchant Bill Furlong, a fair and hard-working man, is a father of five girls. In flashbacks, he recalls his difficult childhood as the son of a young single mother, ostracized by her family. Bill delivers coal to the local convent, where one day he sees a teenage girl who begs him for help. Later he finds another girl locked outside in freezing temperatures. Bill takes her back into the convent; they are led in to see the intimidating Mother Superior who hints at consequences if Bill speaks out and buys his silence. Bill’s wife and friends advise him to toe the line because of the nuns’ social influence. But, one evening Bill finds the same girl locked outside again. He makes a fateful decision.
 

The film – The film is adapted from the prize-winning novel by Claire Keegan. A melancholy film, mostly shrouded in darkness and muted colours with a brooding soundscape, but which assures us we are all capable of doing the right thing, and that goodness can be handed on. The website has an interview with Cillian Murphy, together with Eileen Walsh (who plays his wife), which shows what a personal film it was for him. 

Director: Tim Mielants, Writers: Enda Walsh, Clare Keegan, Cinematography: Frank van den Eeden

Links imdb Film Ireland review Guardian review The Arts Desk review