Meath-made film on Oscars shortlist

'An Cailín Ciúin' (The Quiet Girl), the feature film made mainly in Meath, has continued to break ground by being shortlisted for an Academy Award in the Best International Film category.

It is the first Irish Language film to appear on an Oscar shortlist following its selection in August by the Irish Film and Terlevision Association as Ireland's nominated film for the category.

'An Cailín Ciúin' is the feature film debut of husband and wife team, writer/director, Colm Bairéad and producer, Cleona Ní Chrualaoi of Inscéal, who is from Gilbertstown, Longwood. Director of Photography, Kate McCullough is from Gormanston.

Filmed around Summerhill, Moynalvey, Curraghtown, Garlow Cross, Trim and Clonymeath, farms and farmhouses, country roads and fields, Fagan's Pub in Moynalvey, a school near Navan and a jewellery shop and streets around Trim were used as locations.

'An Cailín Ciúin' tells the story of Cáit (Catherine Clinch) - a nine year-old girl from an overcrowded, dysfunctional family who is sent away to live with foster parents for the summer. Despite a warm reception from the woman, Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley), the man of the house, Seán (Andrew Bennett), keeps his distance from Cáit and she from him, but over time, their strained relationship begins to deepen.

Slowly, in the care of the Kinsellas, Cáit blossoms and discovers a new way of living. But in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one painful truth.

Based on the acclaimed story, 'Foster' by Claire Keegan, the film is a complex and delicate coming-of-age drama that explores questions of family, neglect and loss through the eyes of its young protagonist.

The Irish-language feature film was part of the 'Generation' strand which showcases state-of-the-art international cinema that in its narrative and cinematic language, takes young people seriously; stories that are told through the eyes of their young protagonists and which make their worlds tangible.

The film was funded by Screen Ireland, TG4 and the BAI as part of the Cine4 scheme.

'An Cailín Ciúin' has been receiving plaudits and breaking records since last February, when it won a prestigious Best Film prize at the Berlin Film Festival. It was the first Irish language film to be selected for the international festival, and was named winner of the Grand Prix of the Generation kPlus International Jury for the Best Film.

Then, it recorded another historic victory for Irish language cinema, winning Best Film at the Irish Film and Television Awards for Colm Bairéad and Cleona Ní Chrualaoi.

The film had 10 nominations, as did Kenneth Branagh’s 'Belfast', but Bairéad’s film took home eight awards including Best Film, Best Director for Bairéad, and lead actress for Catherine Clinch, along with multiple craft awards.

Before Christmas, at 35th Film Awards in Reykjavik, Iceland, Kate McCullough accepted the award in cinematography for her work on ‘An Cailín Ciúin’, where Jim Clay and Charlotte Walter won best production design and costume design for Kenneth Beanagh’s ‘Belfast’.

And for the first time in the Dublin Film Critics Circle 14-year history an Irish title has taken best film.

The film has also been nominated for four awards by the London Critics’ Circle: Best Foreign Language Film; Best British/Irish Film of the Year; Breakthrough Filmmaker - Colm Bairéad; and Young Performer - Catherine Clinch. The awards take place in February.

An Cailín Ciúin has taken over €1 million at the Irish and UK box office — an unprecedented amount for an Irish-language title.

Speaking to Newstalk radio, Colm Bairéad said it is “beautiful” to see people take the film into their hearts.

Colm said they knew early on that they had something special on their hands.

“I guess the real litmus test was releasing it and seeing how audiences reacted to it,” he said. “So, we released in May in Ireland and the film ran for six months - just over six months which is kind of crazy - and then, obviously, became the highest grossing Irish language film of all time.

“Just the way in which the film was embraced by audiences was really special. It was incredible. It was really remarkable how people took the film into their hearts really.”

The director said he is “trying not to think too far ahead” – but noted that the race for the Oscar seems wide open.

“This year, people are saying it is probably the most competitive year ever for this category so it is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility that you could get a nomination,” he said.