Irelandis a beautiful country with a lot of history and greenery that makes it an idealistic place for Hollywood to set movies. While many of the films that have beenset in Irelandover the years are romantic in nature, there are many truly great ones across other genres too.
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From more recent animated efforts by Irish companies to classics that are known the world over, Ireland is one of the most quaint and beautiful locations for films that deal with a simpler, quieter sort of life.
8The Banshees Of Inisherin
Therecently released Oscar contenderThe Banshees of Inisherinstars some of the most famous Irish actors of all time Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. The darkly comedic tale handles the fallout of one man ending his friendship with another on a small, rural Irish island.
The Banshees of Inisherinis a beautiful, strange, and dark film that hasgreat performances from allinvolved. The writing is fascinating, and director Martin McDonagh has once again nailed a broodingly comedic tale to add to his repertoire which includesIn BrugesandThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
7Song Of The Sea
Irish animation company Cartoon Saloon has come to prominence over the last decade for their incredible animated movies includingThe Secret of KellsandThe Breadwinner. However, one of their best efforts is the Irish-setSong of the Sea.
Dealing with Irish mythology surrounding fairies,Song of the Seais about a young brother and sister who try to protect the spirit world from the forces of evil with the help of a group of fairies. These young heroes, one of whom is a “selkie” and can transform into a seal, are adorable and help make this one of the most beloved Irish films ever.
6Belfast
Another recent Oscar-worthy effort that won a great number of awards in 2021,Belfastis about the troubles in Northern Ireland which took place during the 1960s and 1970s. Based on the childhood ofdirector Kenneth Branagh, the film focuses on a Protestant family living in Belfast that sees their own people attacking Catholic families living in the area.
Focusing mostly on the childhood perspective,Belfastis a beautiful film that takes a sad look at the hatred which entire communities became obsessed with for so long in Northern Ireland. The difficult situation is navigated with aplomb and features great performances from the likes of Caitriona Balfe and Judi Dench.
5The Commitments
A well-known Irish film that became hugely famous in Irish culture in the 90s,The Commitmentsis part of a trilogy of films called The Barrytown Trilogy, and it is considered the best of the three. The movie focuses on a young music fanatic who decides to put together a group of working-class locals from Dublin to make a soul band.
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The jazzy style and unique collectionof obscure actors who were mostly picked for their musical ability created a phenomenon of a film that remains an incredible watch today.The Commitmentshave gained huge cult status and won four BAFTA awards in 1991.
4The Quiet Man
One of theoldest and most famousfilms set in Ireland,The Quiet Manstars John Wayne as a boxer who accidentally kills somebody in the ring and decides to leave America to return to Ireland. One of the greatest collaborations between Wayne and director John Ford,The Quiet Manpits Wayne’s character against his new brother-in-law, who refuses to give up his sister’s dowry.
The Quiet Manis a hilarious and wonderful piece of Irish history that is still beloved today. The performances by Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, and Barry Fitzgerald are remembered today. The film also won two Oscars, including John Ford getting a nod for best director.
3The Guard
One of the more hilarious fish-out-of-water stories around,The Guardstars Don Cheadle as an American FBI agent who heads to a small town in Ireland to deal with a drug trafficking case. However, he first has to deal with a ridiculous Irish policeman played by Brendan Gleeson.
The duo is particularly wonderful together, with Gleeson’s character being a fairly terrible police officer but a wonderfully fun character that confuses and repulses Cheadle’s straight-laced style character consistently.The Guardis considered one of the most legendary Irish comedy films around.
2Calvary
Another amazing performance by Brendan Gleeson came inCalvary, which was released in 2014 and starred Gleeson as a priest who is informed during confessional by an unknown stranger that he will murder him in a week. Gleeson’s character, dealing with this and trying to reconcile with his daughter, puts on a powerhouse performance.
Calvaryis a dark, serious film that uses the beauty of the Irish landscape well. It also features a great cast of other Irish actors, such as Chris O’Dowd, Aidan Gillen, and Domhnall Gleeson. Directed by John Michael McDonagh, who also directedThe Guard, this was one of the darker and more beautiful films created in Ireland.
1Wolfwalkers
Wolfwalkersis another more recent effort by Cartoon Saloon. Again set in Ireland, but this time set in the 17th century,Wolfwalkershas a fascinating anddifferent take on werewolf legends. An English girl, Robyn, comes with her father, a wolf hunter, to Kilkenny where a pack of wolves has been stopping the locals from clearing a forest.
She meets and falls in with Mebh, a young girl who is a wolf walker, part of a tribe of people that can turn themselves into wolves.Wolfwalkersis a beautiful film that wasnominated for best-animated featureat the Academy Awards and won a host of other awards, marking it as one of the best Irish films to date.
