Ciné Gael is off
to an impressive start

The Irish film series, now in its 32nd year, is the largest outside Ireland

By Byron Toben

February 19, 2024

The Irish film series Ciné Gael Montreal is now in its 32nd year as the largest such Irish film presentation in the world outside of Ireland itself. This year, 2024, also marks the 75th year of Irish independence as a republic. I attended the opening show on January 26 and the second show on February 9. All showings are at the Cinema de Sève in downtown Concordia University.

The opening film was The Quiet Girl, spoken in Gaelic with English subtitles. It became the first Gaelic language film ever to be nominated for an Academy Award. I had seen it earlier at the film club in Westmount’s Victoria Hall. Based on a book, Foster, it depicts the story of a young long-legged teenage girl, sort of a “loner” in her family and school, whose main accomplishment was to run fast.

As her mother was expecting her 4th child, her parents arranged to send her to her mother’s distant childless cousin at a countryside farm for the summer. So this is not a sequel or parody of the great John Ford film, The Quiet Man, with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara.

[The Quiet Girl] became the first Gaelic language film ever to be nominated for an Academy Award.

The girl learns to pick berries, peel potatoes, milk cows, draw water from a well and pick up mail from the mailbox down a long road from the farmhouse. Caught in the rain, she is dressed in dry boy’s clothes, eventually learning that her now foster parents once had a child, but he perished, falling into a sludge pond.

The summer ends, and it’s time to return to school and see her newborn 4th sibling. Delivered back by her “foster” father, she runs after his retreating car, followed by her real parents as the film ends, leaving the audience to speculate whether the arrangement will be more long-lasting.

This opening film was followed by a wine and cheese reception where the audience pondered their opinions.

Frame from the movie, The Quiet Girl

The second film, Ann, was shown on February 9 and was inspired by a true story. This involved a 15-year-old schoolgirl whose growing belly bump evidenced her pregnancy, leading her to avoid school as she wandered about the streets of her small town and her premature birthing pains mounted. We encounter her parents and teachers, sister Patricia, the local priest, and the grocer as she carries things in front of her to cover her belly bump.

While outside, the pain becomes too much, so she hides in a grotto area as she agonizes over the blood and contractions. Finally, amidst the mud and stones, the stillborn baby emerges, and she lapses into a coma.

‘Sainte Ann, mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus, is also the patron saint of women in labour. Whether that influenced the choice of name in this film, I know not.’

Discovered by some fellow students, the priest arrives to give last rites. As an ambulance arrives, a nurse and some helpful bystanders lift her onto a sheet stretcher and finally onto the ambulance. Cardiac massage at the hospital is attempted but does not work. The police politely regret that they must ask the parents to identify the body. The male who impregnated her is never identified.

Post-film, moderator Bettina commented that she could not ask her routine question, “Did you enjoy the film,” but rather, “Was it appreciated?” I agreed.

A trivia note: Sainte Ann, mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus, is also the patron saint of women in labour. Whether that influenced the choice of name in this film, I know not.

Ciné Gael’s next showing, Sunlight, is on February 23.

cinegaelmontreal.com

Feature image: frame from the movie, Ann
Images: courtesy of Ciné Gael Montreal

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Byron Toben, a past president of The Montreal Press Club, has been WestmountMag.ca’s theatre reviewer since July 2015. Previously, he wrote for since terminated websites Rover Arts and Charlebois Post, print weekly The Downtowner, and print monthly The Senior Times. He also is an expert consultant on U.S. work permits for Canadians.