Located in Rural Ireland in the year1981, the film follows a young girl named Cáit (Catherine Clinch). Living with her mother, father, and sisters, her home life is filled with sadness and neglect, and Cáit is a shy person, generally keeping to herself. We see Cáit’s current lifestyle and challenges firsthand, such as when she is told to take a single piece of bread to school for lunch. With Cáit’s mother currently pregnant, discussions are had between her parents, leading to her being sent away to live with another couple for a period of time. Cáit’s father gladly drives her to the home of Seán (Andrew Bennett) and Eibhlín Cinnsealach (Carrie Crowley), both middle-aged people with whom Cáit is unfamiliar and has never met before. In the eyes of Cáit, she’s been sent to live with strangers. Unexpectedly, Cáit is offered affection and compassion, particularly from Eibhlín, and simple things she’s never experienced before, including having a warm hot bath to get clean. Not only does she receive care and love, but Cáit grows and changes deeper, and new bonds are slowly developed. However, while Cáit begins to feel joy and hope, she soon discovers a secret that her new carers have hidden from her. Visually, The Quiet Girl is breathtaking. With stunning and crisp visuals, beautiful locations, and fabulous shots of various sceneries throughout the runtime, every moment on-screen is stunning. The director Colm Bairéad delivers a film filled with drama and on-screen beauty, the combination of which I found touching and impacting. The aspect ratio for the entire duration is 4:3 (square), and I must say this was an excellent choice given the film’s tone and time period. Performances here are perfection, and I must especially commend the talented lead actress, Catherine Clinch. All the performances feel real, and it’s impossible not to feel compassion for the characters in this film, even those who do not deserve it. The dialogue is well-written and spoken with perfection. Conversations throughout have a natural flow, and even when leads don’t speak (including actress Catherine Clinch), they provide plenty of finer details and emotions to deepen understanding for the audience. Overall, this film left me with tears in my eyes and awe. It’s a powerful, touching drama filled with many beautiful, heartbreaking moments. Every moment of this film is visually stunning, and honestly, it’s breathtaking, with sharp and stunning images and beautiful locations and scenery, thanks to director Colm Bairéad. The drama here displays nothing but finesse. Performances cannot be faulted, and the entire cast is excellent with their line delivery and profound expressions, especially Catherine Clinch, who plays the lead. Naturally, The Quiet Girl is a must-watch. * This review has been written for Sanity. For more reviews from Walkden Entertainment, check out the link here: www.walkdenentertainment.com