I reviewed by Colm Bairéad’s The Quiet Girl (aka An Cailín Ciúin), an Irish-language film nominated this year for Best International Feature (a first for Irish-language films). Based on a famous short story by Claire Keegan (later turned into a novella), the film is told intimately from a child’s point of view, what she sees, hears, absorbs. It is a quiet film, indeed: she’s quiet, the people who care for her are quiet, and the rhythms are that of farm life – slow, deliberate, careful. But the film did its work. It’s been a long time since I literally dissolved into stormy tears at a film’s final sequence. I was a MESS. The film is not really bilingual. It’s mostly Irish. And that’s kind of a big deal. I reviewed An Cailín Ciúin for Ebert.
![“There were so many things I wanted to say, stream-of-consciousness things, designs and patterns while listening to music. I felt I might be able to say [them] if I had an unending canvas.” — pioneering experimental animator Mary Ellen Bute #botd
I wrote about Bute - a fascinating woman whose experimental shorts were shown before features in the 1930s - meaning literally millions of people saw her work. I wrote about her feature film adaptation of FINNEGANS WAKE - and her career in general - for @filmcommentmagazine. As a fellow member of the James Joyce Society, albeit 80 years apart - I feel like I was born to write a piece like this. Just sorry Dad wasn’t here. It was in the print version of the mag (RIP) but it’s online too. Link in bio/stories.
#maryellenbute #finneganswake #animation #jamesjoyce #femalefilmmakers #femalefilmmaker](https://www.sheilaomalley.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/404275042_3458325717738885_453663892225035689_nfull.jpg)
Oh, what a film! It seems nothing is happening, but a lots go with just a few words. The girl acts superbly, nothing betrays her quietness, even when she runs.
The use of such lovely rich and warm pale yellow (I can’t really describe it) on her clothes, the cars, the soft walls of the kitchen is so delicate and poetic.
Clary – you’re so right, the yellows were so soothing – normally yellow isn’t soothing, right? but here it was. peace and quiet for this girl, finally.
Those scenes where she runs – I was just a mess! She got to be a kid.
A whole life changes in this quiet rural world and their quiet unassuming kindness to her. I just loved it.