Though gently restrained and delicately crafted, "The Quiet Girl" has managed to make plenty of noise. Colm Bairead's modestly scaled drama, his directorial debut, is the highest-grossing Irish-language film of all time. It bested "Belfast" at the Irish Film & Television Awards. And it's nominated for best international film at the Academy Awards, a first for Ireland.
It's not hard to see why. Bairead's sensitive and heartfelt film, which debuted in many theaters Friday, is a stirring testament to what's possible on a modest scale with a few well-chosen words. Set in 1981 rural Ireland, "The Quiet Girl" -- a clever tweak to the title of John Ford's Ireland-set "The Quiet Man" -- comes from Claire Keegan's short story "Foster," and it preserves much of the rhythm and concision of a good short story.
There's much to soak up in "The Quiet Girl," including Kate McCullough's radiant cinematography and Emma Lowney's graceful production design. Sentimentality is always close at hand but never barges in. Bairead coaxes the story out sensitively, sticking almost entirely to Cait's perspective. As a portrait of a child's resilience -- and the damning view of adulthood that can be spied from young eyes -- it could sit comfortably alongside Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's similarly affecting "The Kid With a Bike."
"The Quiet Girl," a Neon release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for some strong language and smoking. In Irish. Running time: 94 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.
This image released by Super shows Catherine Clinch in a scene from "The Quiet Girl." (Super via AP)
This image released by Super shows Andrew Bennett, left, and Catherine Clinch in a scene from "The Quiet Girl." (Super via AP)