Shortlisted for this year’s Oscars in the Live Action Short Film category, is the heart-warming An Irish Goodbye. Set on a farm within the rural landscape of Northern Ireland, two estranged brothers Lorcan and Turlough find themselves reunited after the untimely death of their mother. What at first seems to be a simple farewell becomes complicated when the two find their mother’s 100-item bucket list… all unfulfilled .

An Irish Goodbye explores themes of tradition, loss and family, whilst also addressing the issue of caring for someone with special needs. Turlough now has to decide who will care for Lorcan, who has Down’s Syndrome, which adds to the stress of their loss. Lorcan’s desire of continuing to work on the farm where he grew up is dashed when Turlough decides to send him to live with their Aunt on the other side of Ireland.

With Lorcan refusing to leave the farm until  they have completed every single wish on the bucket list, starting with learning ‘How to do Tai Chi’,  the brothers soon find themselves on a journey neither had envisioned. 

The black comedy stars Seamus O’Hara (Universal’s The Northman, HBO’s Game of Thrones), James Martin (BBC’s Ups and Downs, ITV’s Marcella), Emmy and Olivier Award nominee Michelle Fairley (HBO’s Game of Thrones, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows) and Paddy Jenkins (Film 4’s Steve McQueen’s Hunger), AMC’s Into The Badlands) making this an enjoyable watch. 

Commenting on the film’s themes and nomination success at a Q&A screening, Ross White and Tom Berkeley, the film’s writers and directors shared how it was their own encounters with grief and “returning to the family organism” that inspired the story. This shines through not only aesthetically (many nods to a red, gloomy dining room) but also in the script’s gentle, easy intimacy. There’s a lightness to the processing of grief that is resonant with self-deprecating Northern Irish gallows humour. The quips and verbal jabs between the two brothers are an example of this.

Its usage of a lead with Down’s Syndrome was a source of celebration for me. When I asked the directors how the film would have been different if Lorcan had been the older brother, they touched on Turlough’s prejudice and belief that his brother needed a caretaker, as well as how this played on screen as a point of contention between the two brothers. Turlough makes no secret of his desire to sell the farm and rush back to London, avoiding all carer responsibilities and his anger at the prospect is not lost on Lorcan’s character, as we soon see. 

This is truly where James Martin’s character shines for me: we get both sides of how each brother deals with their grief, but it is Martin’s humility, honesty and boldness that shines through, at the same time as still hitting the mark in terms of its comedic edge. 

An Irish Goodbye is an ambitious picture that, in a satisfying and heart-warming sense, almost feels as if it could be outside of the short film genre. Making it to the Oscar shortlist is no small achievement given the level of competition inherent in the selection process. But this is an excellent movie that I’ve recommended to everyone I’ve crossed paths with since the screening.

How will it do on the night? An Irish Goodbye delivers tears, but is it enough to bag the trophy? Who knows, we can only wish them all the (Northern) Irish luck in the world!

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Written by Rukayat Moibi. Edited by Gillian Smith

Rukayat Moibi is a lover of all things space, otherworldly and wonderful, after Logan’s Run stole her pre-teen heart. Since then, her love for film and media has expanded to include joys like Black stories and cinema, world films and immersive theatre. If she’s not nestled into her favourite seat at The Ritzy, you’re sure to find Rukayat building her eczema-focused brand, Rukai Skincare, a range for eczema and challenged skins alike.

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