Foscadh

Foscadh
Poster
Directed bySeán Breathnach
Screenplay bySeán Breathnach
Story byDónal Ryan
Based onThe Thing about December
by Dónal Ryan
Produced byPaddy Hayes
Starring
CinematographyColm Hogan
Edited byConall de Cléir
Music bySindri Már Sigfússon
Production
companies
TUA Films
(Magamedia Teo)
Release date
  • 23 July 2021 (2021-07-23) (Galway Film Fleadh)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryIreland
LanguageIrish

Foscadh (Irish: [ˈfˠasˠkə]; "Shelter"; also written in Gaelic script as Foscaḋ)[1] is a 2021 Irish film, based on characters in the novel The Thing about December by Donal Ryan.[2] The film premiered at the 2021 Galway Film Fleadh.[3][4] It was selected as the Irish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.[5]

Plot

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John Cunliffe (Dónall Ó hÉalaí) is a 28-year-old recluse, coddled by his parents, living on a farm in Connemara, Ireland. When his parents pass away, John discovers that he has inherited land in the way of a proposed lucrative windfarm development. Having never had to fend for himself, he has to grow up fast: navigating friendships, romance and matters of trust for the first time.[6][7] Ó hÉalaí described his character as having been "sheltered all his life by his parents […] when he loses them, his story is him becoming an adult, and all that entails."[8]

Production

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Foscadh was filmed in 2019 and 2020, in Corr na Móna, County Galway[6] having received a grant of 400,000 from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.[2]

Reception

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Foscadh received its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2021, where it won the Award for Best First Film.[9] Director, Seán Breathnach was awarded the Jury Prize for Best Director at the 2021 Newport Beach Film Festival and was nominated for a Zebbie award by the Writer's Guild of Ireland for his script in the feature film category. The film was also awarded the top prize, The Golden Tree, for best film at the 4th Kimolos International Film Festival. The Irish Times in a four star review described the film as a "powerful" piece that "poignantly chronicles rural male loneliness." Declan Burke of The Irish Examiner praises Seán Breathnach for crafting "...an emotionally charged psychologically complex film." Variety described the film as a "forensic and unflinching examination" of loneliness and longing that is "very well performed and visually striking." The Phoenix in its review of the film, described it as "among the very best debut feature films to be made in Ireland."[1].[10][11][12][13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Foscadh (2021): The movie compared to the book". Movies vs Books.
  2. ^ a b Laura Slattery (26 September 2018). "Donal Ryan adaptation 'Foscadh' and Dublin drama 'Townsend' awarded public funds". Irish Times.
  3. ^ "Foscadh (Shelter)". Galway Film Fleadh. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  4. ^ "3 TG4 premieres at Galway Film Fleadh 2021 including the latest Cine4". TG4. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Irish-language drama makes its bid for Oscars glory". RTE. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b Nathan Griffin (6 November 2019). "Filming begins on Foscadh, Seán Breathnach's debut Irish Language feature film". IFTN.
  7. ^ "'Foscadh' feature length film coming soon". TUA Films. 20 December 2019.
  8. ^ Charles Grant (28 September 2020). "Stars of Tomorrow 2020: Dónall Ó Héalai (actor)". Screen Daily.
  9. ^ Clarke, Donald (26 July 2021). "Galway Film Fleadh 2021: Stacey Gregg's thriller Here Before wins best Irish film". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Foscadh: Get ready for the new wave as Gaeilge". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  11. ^ Kuipers, Richard (8 November 2021). "'Shelter' Review: A Bleak, Brooding Drama About Isolation and Loneliness". Variety. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  12. ^ Burke, Declan (11 March 2022). "Film review: Foscadh is an emotionally charged and psychologically complex film". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  13. ^ "FOSCADH - DIRECTED BY SEÁN BREATHNACH". The Phoenix Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
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