An Cailín Ciúin (2022)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
The story
Set in 1981, the film follows a withdrawn nine-year-old girl raised by neglectful parents among many other siblings, who experiences a loving home for the first time when she spends the summer on a farm in Rinn Gaeltacht, County Waterford, alone with a married couple who are distant relatives. The girl, Cáit, is sent away by her mother, who is pregnant again, to live with her middle-aged distant cousin Eibhlín Cinnsealach and her husband Seán. Upon arrival, Eibhlín welcomes her into the home, showing her love and teaching her chores.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the summer of 1981, nine-year-old Cáit lives with her impoverished and neglectful parents in rural Ireland. Struggling to fit in at school, she is sent to live with her distant cousins, Eibhlín and Seán, on a farm in County Waterford. Eibhlín treats Cáit with kindness, teaching her chores and providing a loving environment. Seán is initially cold but eventually bonds with her, creating a pleasant ritual of fetching the mail. During a wake, a neighbor reveals that the Cinnsealachs lost a son in a slurry pit years prior, a fact that quietly upsets the couple. After a month, Cáit's mother requests her return for the school year. Before leaving, Cáit falls into a well and develops a cold. When driven back home, her parents are dismissive and harsh. As the car drives away, Cáit sprints to catch them, embracing Seán as she hears her father approaching.
- Original title
- Fanacht
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 94
- Production countries
- Ireland
- Original languages
- Irish; English
- Directors
- Colm Bairéad
- Writers
- Colm Bairéad · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Catherine Clinch · Cáit; Carrie Crowley · Eibhlín Kinsella; Andrew Bennett · Seán Kinsella; Michael Patric · Da; Kate Nic Chonaonaigh · Mam
- Genres
- coming-of-age; drama
- Themes
- childhood; grief; parenthood; rebuilding a family
- Tone and mood
- delicate; unique atmosphere
- Premise and plot tags
- coming-of-age; drama; adoption
- Source material / true-story basis
- Foster, a 2010 novella in English by Claire Keegan
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim for its emotional weight, story, and performances. It was praised for its delicate story, stunning cinematography, and unique atmosphere.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 97% · review count: 146; Metacritic · score: 89 · scale: 100 · review count: 29
- Awards and nominations
- Grand Prix from the Generation Kplus International Jury for Best Film · Best Film · win; special mention · children's jury · win; Academy Award · Best International Feature Film · nomination; BAFTA Award · Best Film Not in the English Language · nomination; BAFTA Award · Best Adapted Screenplay · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled Fanacht ("Waiting").; It became the first Irish film in history to achieve the nomination for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards.; It broke box office records for the opening weekend of an Irish-language film and became the highest-grossing Irish-language film of all time.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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