OUT 5 MAY CINEMAS
There’s a whiff of Brit classic (1963) to this tale of a farmer’s son in rural Ireland whose whole world revolves around his role on his local Gaelic football team. When a night out ends with a savage alleyway beating, Cian Éanna Hardwicke) tries to shrug it off, only to gradually realise that his injuries might have a lasting impact on his footballing career. Writer/directors Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney bring subtlety, empathy and a keen understanding of toxic male culture to their accomplished debut feature. Dramatically, alas, it’s all rather wan and muted.
