Starring: Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Sarah Bolger, Emma Bolger, Djimon Hounsou

Directed By: Jim Sheridan

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Look at all the chances we are given as human beings. Our lives begin to strain with the constant nagging and evil of society. We are awakened by the humble call of God and still not really abiding by anything he has set us out to do for him. This is something that almost fills the premise of this touching and poignant film. The film begins with some really interesting handy cam shots that give us a feel of a certain loss in this Irish family. A loss that has turned their lives upside down and also changed them forever.

The story talks about a devout Christian family whose ideals are all challenged after the death of one of their sons. They are left with two beautiful daughters who help them cope. The father played by Paddy Considine is an aspiring actor looking for work almost everywhere. He really tries hard to forget all that has happened. He seems to distance himself from God and all his old beliefs. His wife on the other hand is still a believer. She sort of brings this family together. They come to America to change their lives and they stay in a run down flat that is just brimming with instances of self discovery. The film begins to turn into something magical at this point. The presence of a greater being is felt throughout this whole process. Now here comes the best character in the whole film Mateo he is a man who is struggling with his demons and disease. He is not a real happy man but more of a ghost that just lives in his apartment. He befriends the kids of the family and begins to share a sort of uncanny bond with this family. Djimon Hounsou who plays this role is something of a great finds, he breaths into this character life that is almost nonexistent. His clothing and demeanor brings close to an understanding of acting that is so foreign that it lights up the screen with all its nuances.

But it is really a matter of time before everything that has been shown on the film pieces together to make a really commendable story. The film doesn’t want to indulge itself in all the small details of plot but it wants to sink itself in the magic of the whole narrative. It leaves us with a smile on our faces at watching all the bitter sweetness that it has given us. Even the characters that are drawn in this film tend to mingle with each others consciousness and making something that is really incandescent.

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