The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: The Best of the Irish Cinema

Artwork by Michael DiMilo

The Pen in Hand’s Top Ten St. Patrick’s Day Movies

By Geoff Carter

It’s that time of year again, that special day of days set aside to celebrate the joy of being Irish. Green beer, corned beef sandwiches, the wearing of the green, The Chieftains spinning on your turntable, and a tall glass of Guinness Stout—chased by some Tullamore Dew, herald the advent of a day celebrating the finest of God’s creatures—The Irish.

In recognition of this special day, The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies has perused thousands of films with a most discerning eye to come up with a list of movies that represents the best of the Irish culture. Here we have comedy, drama, music, scandal, adultery, revolution, pain, and love. There is indeed something for everyone here. Of course, as a matter of space, I was not able to include some Irish-based films like Leprechaun, Darby O’Gill and the Little People, or The Secret of Roan Inish, all interesting films in their right. Agree or disagree as is your wont. These are my favorites.

So here are Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies Top Ten St. Patrick Day movies…

The Top Ten St. Patrick Day Movies

The Commitments: This comedy is about Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins), a young man determined to put together a soul band in the Northside of Dublin. He manages to assemble a motley group of wannabes, grizzled vets, and various other alienated groups to form The Commitments—Dublin’s hardest-working band. Of course, as is the way of most bands, things don’t go as well as they could. Petty jealousies, inflated egos, and tangled romances lead to a very predictable—but hilarious—end. From the novel by Roddy Doyle and directed by Alan Parker.

The Snapper: This comedy follows Sharon Curly (Tina Kellegher), a 20-year-old who discovers she is pregnant after a wild night out. She decides to have baby and refuses to name the father (who she barely knows). Her father Dessie (Colm Meaney), at first outraged at her indiscretion and determined to make the father pay, slowly becomes reconciled to the idea of having another little one around the house. The relationship between Sharon and Dessie grows fonder as she becomes more and more pregnant. As a father, he becomes protective and sees a side of his little girl he never knew before. From the novel by Roddy Doyle. Directed by Stephen Frears.

Belfast: Kenneth Branagh’s affectionate look back at this childhood home of Belfast. Even though the plot addresses issues like religious unrest and political strongarming in the city, the film is mostly seen through young Buddy’s eyes. Even the construction of the barricade on the block is tempered by the graciousness of his neighbors. The financial difficulties of his parents—and the constant friction it causes—are seen and understood through the eyes of a child. Buddy’s relationship with his Pop (Ciaran Hinds) and Granny (Judi Dench) are priceless and affectionate. The black and white cinematography is simply beautiful. Written and directed by Kenneth Branagh

The Banshees of Inisherin: A magnificently dark comedy about two close friends who dwell in the small seaside town of Inisherin. When Colm (Brendan Gleeson) abruptly decides to end his longtime friendship with the kind-hearted Padraic (Colin Farrell) in order to pursue his artistic ambitions, the latter is surprised, then hurt, and finally angry. He demands Colm resume their friendship. When Colm refuses and threatens to take drastic action to prove his determination to Padraic, things take an ugly—but morbidly funny—turn. The film’s supporting cast is tremendous. Barry Keoghan is brilliant as the dimwitted Dominic and Kerry Condon is superb as Siobhan, Padraic’s exasperated sister. Written and directed by Martin McDonagh.

The Crying Game: This superb thriller follows IRA soldier Fergus (Stephen Rae) who is assigned to guard a captured British soldier by his ruthless cohort Jude (Miranda Richardson). He befriends the prisoner, who asks him to look after his girlfriend Dil (Jaye Davidson). When the prisoner dies, Fergus sets off to fulfill his promise and meets Dil, with whom he begins to fall in love. In one of the greatest plot twists ever, Fergus realizes Dil is more than she seems to be. When Jude reappears, demanding he go on a mission for the IRA, things get thorny. Stephen Rae’s underplayed Fergus is perfect for the rule. A wonderful thriller and a hell of a love story. Written and directed by Neil Jordan.

Brooklyn: A romantic coming-of-age story about Ellis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) who is trapped in the narrow life of Enniscorthy, a tiny Irish town where she works for the cruel and dominating Miss Kelly. Wanting a better life for her, her mother sends her to live in Brooklyn. At first lonely and hopelessly homesick, Ellis begins to adjust to life in America. She meets a man, Tony, at an Irish dance, and the two date and eventually fall in love. When Ellis is summoned back home, Tony asks her to marry him, which she does. When she does get home, she realizes that she now has a permanent place there—if she wants it. When Kelly confronts her, Ellis chooses. This film features yet another sterling performance by Ronan, one of our finest young actresses. Written by Nick Hornby. Directed by John Crowly.

My Left Foot: Based on the memoir of Christy Brown (Daniel Day-Lewis), a young man afflicted with cerebral palsy so severe that the only body part he can move is his left foot. Born to an enormous Dublin family, Christy is thought to be incapable of higher thought, but when he is able to communicate to neighbors that his mother had had an accident, his father now believes his son is not only sentient, but quite intelligent. Christy takes up painting and although he and his family are faced with numerous hardships, he goes to school and eventually lives a full life. Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance as Cristy Brown is simply one of the finest acting performances ever preserved on the silver screen. Written by Shane Connaughton and directed by Jim Sheridan.

Ryan’s Daughter: Against the backdrop of the Irish Revolution, this epic film by David Lean centers on the very young and brash Rose Ryan (Sarah Miles) who is in love with her idealistic and naïve teacher Charles Shaughnessy (Robert Mitchum). He returns her affection, and despite their difference in ages, they are married. Rose soon longs for something beyond their little town, and when a British major (Christopher Jones) arrives, the two find each other. Tim O’Leary, an Irish patriot, comes to the town for assistance in a gun-running plan but is betrayed by an informant from a most unexpected source. The film contains beautiful scenery of County Kerry, Ireland. Written by Robert Bolt and directed by David Lean.

The Van: Bimbo (Donal O’Kelly) is laid off from his job as a baker in Dublin. Together with his friend Larry (Colm Meany), the two start a fish and chip business out of an old van. The business starts outs booming because of the FIFA World Cup, but as it slows and Bimbo and his wife Maggie (Ger Ryan) start acting behaving like traditional bosses, Larry becomes more and more frustrated. After the van is closed down by a health inspector, Bimbo and Larry’s friendship reaches the point of no return. This film, like most Roddy Doyle vehicles, is simultaneously funny, poignant, and beautiful. Written by Roddy Doyle. Directed by Stephen Frears.

The Quiet Man: John Ford’s romantic comedy and love song to Ireland in which Sean Thornton (John Wayne), an American with a mysterious past, returns home to his birthplace of Inisfree to buy his old family farm. While there, he meets Mary Kate Dannaher (Maureen O’Hara). Mary Kate’s brother Will (Victor McLaglen) is incensed when Thornton buys the property and refuses to let his sister marry Thornton. The townspeople, including the Catholic priest (Ward Bond) and the Protestant minister, attempt to manipulate matters so that the marriage can go through, but nothing works until Sean realizes he must beat Will at his own game and fight him like an Irishman. Cast with a host of wonderful character actors, Ford populates Innisfree with a community of lovable and whimsical Irishman and women. Written by Frank S. Nugent and directed by John Ford.