It made history upon release and is truly a must-see film.
Our TV movie pick for Christmas Day is An Cailín Ciúin (also known as The Quiet Girl), the brilliant 2022 Oscar-nominated Irish drama.
Based on the story ‘Foster’ by Claire Keegan, the Irish-language film is set in rural Ireland in 1981.
It revolves around a nine-year-old girl named Cait (Catherine Clinch, incredible) who is sent away from her overcrowded, dysfunctional family to live with foster parents (Andrew Bennett and Carrie Crowley, both also incredible) for the summer.
“Quietly struggling at school and at home, she has learned to hide in plain sight from those around her,” the plot synopsis reads.
“She blossoms in her foster parents’ care, but in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one painful truth.”
Written and directed by Colm Bairéad, An Cailín Ciúin does stunning work evoking the period in which it is set.
This is as it weaves a simple yet incredibly powerful coming-of-age story that should turn even the most typically stone-faced movie watcher into a weeping mess.
Holding a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, the film went on to make history by becoming the first Irish film in history to secure a nomination in the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film Category.
An Cailín Ciúin is airing on TV on Christmas Day on TG4 at 8pm.
It is also streaming on Channel 4’s website under its English title The Quiet Girl.
Here are 12 other great movies airing on Christmas Day:
Soul – RTÉ One – 3.55pm
Pixar’s Oscar-winning animation is about an aspiring pianist (voiced by Jamie Foxx) who falls into a coma following an accident and seeks to reunite his separated soul and body in time for his big break as a jazz musician.
An incredible movie that children and adults can enjoy alike.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – BBC One – 6.10pm
The much-anticipated new feature film in the beloved Wallace & Gromit franchise.
It already holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Greatest Showman – Film4 – 6.55pm
The hit musical starring Hugh Jackman.
E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial – Sky Showcase – 8pm
“Phone home.”
Saving Private Ryan – More4 – 9pm
The greatest war film of all time, according to a recent poll.
Heat – Legend – 9pm
Robert De Niro plays a professional thief. Al Pacino plays the cop on his tail.
The pair’s charisma, a stacked supporting cast and incredibly muscular action set-pieces make this an all-time classic.
Den of Thieves – Virgin Media Two – 9pm
Fans of Heat may also enjoy this similar in plot and tone movie about a group of thieves and the cop (Gerard Butler) hell-bent on taking them down.
A surprise hit upon release in 2018, its sequel lands in cinemas next month.
Lethal Weapon – ITV4 – 9.10pm
The classic buddy cop action flick with Danny Glover and Mel Gibson.
Top Gun: Maverick – RTÉ One – 10pm
Probably the best blockbuster of recent years.
The Young Offenders – RTÉ2 – 10pm
The Irish big-screen comedy adventure that inspired the hit sitcom of the same name.
The Snapper – Virgin Media One – 10pm
“Snip, snip.”
A Quiet Place – Film4 – 11.40pm
This brilliant horror thriller that launched a franchise is set in a world invaded by blind creatures that hunt via sound.
Read more:
- A brilliant hidden gem crime thriller movie is on TV tonight
- Jack Black and Paul Rudd to star in reboot of ’90s action thriller cult classic
- Best Christmas movie of recent years quietly streaming on Netflix
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
