Seventeen-year-old Christy is at a crossroads. Thrown out of his suburban foster home, he has moved in temporarily with his estranged older brother, Shane, in Cork’s inner city. But Shane wants something better for Christy. After so many years apart, the brothers are forced to reconcile with their turbulent past, whilst deciding what the future looks like. Sometimes, to move forward, you have to go back.

The Garden Cinema View:

Irish cinema continues to have something of a moment with this solid serving of Cork-social-realism. And whilst fair bit of the style Christy comes from the Andrea Arnold/Robbie Ryan handbook, beneath that is a strong and authentic spirit all of its own. The casting is excellent, and director Brendan Canty coaxes some effortlessly natural performances from his young actors, including some wonderfully written and improvised slang dialogue. Alongside the suitably damp Cork locations, this makes for a tender and believable tale of adolescent struggle.

Cast:
Danny Power, Diarmuid Noyes, Emma Willis, Alison Oliver