“Péist? I mo cháca?!”
Most Irish folks of a certain generation still wake up in the middle of the night, haunted by nightmares of a blind Brendan Gleeson scrambling around for his inhaler while he chokes to death on a train.
If you’ve only just been reminded of the terrifying short film Cáca Milis by that vivid description, we can only apologise.
But for modern Leaving Cert students, it looks like the days of having to study the 18-minute-long Irish language horror (yes, we’re saying horror) film are over, and Gleeson seems more than relieved about it.
Brendan Gleeson reacts to iconic film finally being replaced on Leaving Cert.
The iconic short film has been a staple of Irish examinations, so much so that it’s become something of a cult classic amongst former Leaving Cert students.
The premise, if you need reminding, is simple: A woman named Catherine (played by Charlotte Bradley) has her quiet train journey interrupted by a blind man named Pól, who she subsequently murders in cold blood because he was a messy eater. Nightmarish indeed.
'It makes a change from Cáca Milis!'🎞Brendan Gleeson finds out that The Banshees of Inisherin will be on the Leaving Cert
🎧Listen to The @PatKennyNT Show on the GoLoud App
for the full interview pic.twitter.com/dmO7Gl65l6— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) February 27, 2024
In a recent interview with Newstalk presenter Pat Kenny, Gleeson was told that the film had finally been replaced by another of his works – The Banshees of Inisherin.
“You know you’re on the curriculum for the Leaving Cert and the Banshees next year?” asked Kenny.
Gleeson, who seemingly was unaware of the news, responded with, “Well thanks be to God it makes a change from Cáca Milis,” before bursting out into laughter.
“I’ve been stuffing my face with a cake for thirty years. The poor Leaving Cert students, honest to God!”
While he was delighted with the news and said that he’d “stand over The Banshees any day”, we can’t help but feel a slight pang of sadness that future generations won’t be forced to experience Cáca Milis like we were.
A truly seminal moment of childhood.
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