How it’s New York: The Movies’ Stars Came Out For The Red Carpet And New York Premiere Before The Movie Opened Nationally On Friday
How it’s Irish: It’s the first Irish-Language Film To Be Nominated For Best International Feature At The Academy Awards
When we first come upon young, thin, pale Cáit (Catherine Clinch), she’s hiding: not just from her three sisters calling out for her around the family farm, her overwhelmed mother (Kate Nic Chonaonaigh) and her harsh, gambler of a father (Michael Patric) with a wandering eye, but really from everyone and everything. It’s a cold household with little love passing between anyone, and after the movie I thought, what a difference family planning would have made for all of them if they’d had one or two kids instead of six. But this is rural Ireland in 1981, and Cáit’s proud mam with seemingly few options, stays and stands by him despite being unable to rely on her husband for money or really anything other than getting her pregnant. She has no voice, saying nothing as he verbally abuses Cáit. It’s little wonder that her youngest daughter is timid, confused and has no confidence.
At school a teacher asks Cáit to read and it’s almost unbearable to watch her barely get the words out. Frustrated, the teacher moves on to a more assured girl. Cáit’s pain and discomfort are palpable and she’s utterly empathetic. Though she (and the audience) don’t know why, her mam suddenly decides to ship 9-year-old Cáit off for the Summer to her relatives Eibhlin and Seán Cinnsealach (Carrie Crowley and Andrew Bennett) in County Waterford, it proves to be an unexpected mercy. It’s three hours and a world away. Eibhlín and Seán also have a farm, but a thriving one, and also a big, bright airy home to themselves.
There’s something hanging over the two of them and it comes out in different ways: Eibhlín is affectionate but fragile, lovingly brushing Cáit’s hair while telling her there are no secrets in this house. Seán, on the other hand, is initially distant and almost as abrupt with her as Cáit’s father. The beauty of the film is in watching as Cáit’s blossoming unfolds and seeing how the sweet and gentle Cáit moves them past grief and tragedy, and the three of them nourish each other. They are grateful for her presence and as she literally grows over the months, we also witness how a new strength will guide and protect her, even when she doesn’t have words to express herself.
Director and writer Colm Bairéad has brought Claire Keegan’s novella Foster to vibrant, poignant life in the lush, Irish-language film. The performances are gorgeous, especially newcomer Catherine Clinch, who is a complete natural in her first acting role. In a Q&A following the premiere, producer Cleona Ní Chrualaoí, who’s the IRL spouse of the director, said it was a seven-month search for their young lead. The team chose Clinch because of the “composure and compassion” she showed toward Cáit, vital qualities because unlike in the novella, Cáit doesn’t provide first-person narration. As Bairéad remarked, “I wanted to embrace the silence and have faith that we’d find someone who could stand in her shoes without relying on dialogue….The entire movie rests on Catherine’s shoulders”. Clinch is a terrific find and The Quiet Girl may just make a big noise on Oscar night.
