WATCH: THE QUIET GIRL (Irish: An Cailín Ciúin [ənˠ ˈkalʲiːnʲ cuːnʲ])

Looking for a film to watch in honor of Irish culture this St. Paddy’s Day? Sure many of ye know of (and turn to) The Quiet Man featuring none other than John “The Duke” Wayne himself and the stunning, fiery Maureen O’Hara (RIP to the both of them) that debuted in 1952. However—continuing on multiple themes—The Quiet Girl must now be added to your film viewing collection —in the event that it hasn’t been already. Be warned, it will pull at your heartstrings with its complex simplicity, sure it will.

Currently steaming on Hulu (hooray for us!), The Quiet Girl debuted in 2022 and rightfully received multiple awards and critical acclaim. One of its many brilliant features is the incorporation of the native Irish language. (Therefore, unless you speak Irish, watching with subtitles might be something you want to do.)

It features the gorgeous young Irish actress and ingénue, Catherine Clinch, in the feature role as Cáit and is based on the 2010 short story “Foster” by Claire Keegan. (Albeit the entire cast is wonderful.)

The film is aptly named. What allows it to tug subtly at the heart strings is the overall “quietness” of the film: the moments of silence between the actors—or surrounding an actor—hearing nothing but background noise—like the gentle motor of an engine while Cáit travels in the backseat of a car gazing quizzically at the swirling colors passing outside the windows, or the gentle turning of the sea waves while she and Seán sit under the moonlight on a worn stable door that has washed upon the shore. It’s during this scene on the shore, under the shadow of the moon, that middle-aged, father figure Seán (played by Andrew Bennett) delivers some of the most profound lines of the film. He says to Cáit (in his native tongue of Irish): “You don’t have to say anything. Always remember that. Many’s the person missed the opportunity to say nothing and lost much because of it.”

The power of those simple lines is amplified by the pregnant pauses before and after them—like a one/two punch to the soul.

Much more could be said, but it’s those “spaces in between” and the languid pace of the film in general that allows for its emotionality. The filmmakers let moments linger, so the full impact of them may be felt. Have a watch/listen for yourself and let me know your thoughts.

Ní gá duit aon rud a rá. Cuimhnigh sin i gcónaí. Go leor's an duine chaill an deis a rá rud ar bith agus chaill i bhfad mar gheall air.

~ from the Editor's Desk

Image by Super from THE QUIET GIRL, AP 2023