Maybe the best Irish movie ever is on TV tonight

The history-making film holds a near-perfect 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and is also currently available to stream for free at home.

Based on the story 'Foster' by Claire Keegan (Small Things Like These), the Irish-language film is set in 1981 in rural Ireland. It follows a nine-year-old girl named Cait (an incredible Catherine Clinch).

She is sent away from her overcrowded, dysfunctional family for the summer to live with distant relatives (played by Andrew Bennett and Carrie Crowley, both giving beautiful performances). While Cait was quietly struggling at school and at home, we watch her blossom in her foster parents' care.

"But in their house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one painful truth," the plot synopsis adds.

Watch the trailer for An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) right here:

An Cailín Ciúin does stunning work evoking the period in which it is set. At the same time, writer-director Colm Bairéad weaves a simple yet extraordinarily powerful, universal coming-of-age tale, one that should turn even the most typically stone-faced viewer into a weeping mess.

Currently holding a near-perfect 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, the drama went on to make history. It became the first Irish-language movie ever to be Oscar-nominated, securing a nod in the Best International Feature Film Category.

An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) is airing on TV tonight on TG4 at 10.30pm. It's also currently available to stream for free on TG4's website.

Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight (Monday, 26 October):