That They May Face The Rising Sun (15)

Pat Collins’ beautiful exploration of gentle life in a

tight-knit rural community.

Adapted from John McGahren’s final novel of the

same name, the story sees aspiring writer John

(Barry Ward) and his artist wife Kate (Anna Bederke)

return to the rural Irish village where he grew up.

Living on a quiet little farm, John spends his days

working on a novel that he never gets closer to

finishing, while Kate weaves plants into ornate

sculptures for no specific reason. Their peaceful

existence is only interrupted by the small group of

neighbours who drop by for a chat and a cigarette

at their kitchen table as we see things play out over

the course of a year.

Aimless by nature, the film moves at its own pace.

While John and the other islanders go through the

motions of their day-to-day lives, the scenery is

the only thing that goes through any real change

throughout the year. With eye-widening scenes of

rolling green hills and golden sunshine reflecting on

the lake’s surface, this idyllic hideaway paradise is

the real main character.

A staggeringly beautiful and delicately moving

drama.