It picked up the IFTA award for Best Irish Film this year.
UPDATE: Monday, 30 December
In case you missed it on St. Stephen’s Day, That They May Face the Rising Sun will also air tonight (Monday, 30 December) at 10.30pm on BBC One NI.
For more details about the Irish drama, read our original article below.
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Our TV movie pick for St. Stephen’s Day is That They May Face the Rising Sun, the 2024 Irish film with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
An adaptation of the final novel from legendary Irish writer John McGahern, the drama centres around Joe (Barry Ward) and Kate Ruttledge (Anna Bederke) – a couple in the ’80s who have returned from London to live and work in a small Irish lakeside community near to where Joe grew up.
“Now deeply embedded in the life around the lake, the drama of a year in their lives and those of the memorable characters that move about them unfolds through the rituals of work, play and the passing seasons,” a plot synopsis for the movie reads.
Described as a “lyrical celebration of the everyday”, That They May Face the Rising Sun earned rave reviews upon release and picked up the top award for Best Irish Film at this year’s IFTAs.
Co-written and directed by Pat Collins and also featuring amongst its cast Lalor Roddy and Sean McGinley, the drama is airing on TV tonight on RTÉ One at 9.20pm.
It should also be available to stream on the RTÉ Player after it airs.
Here are 12 other great movies airing on St. Stephen’s Day
The Magnificent Seven – BBC Two – 2.25pm
The classic ’60s Western.
Goldfinger – RTÉ2 – 3.20pm
‘He loves only gold!’
The Quiet Man – RTÉ One – 3.30pm
In this Oscar-winning romantic comedy-drama, John Wayne plays a retired boxer who travels to his hometown in Ireland to reclaim his family farm.
Into the West – TG4 – 5.05pm
Gabriel Byrne and Ellen Barkin star in this beloved Irish ’90s magical realist film.
Matilda the Musical – BBC One – 5.40pm
Starring Irish actress and recent JOE interviewee Alisha Weir.
Raiders of the Lost Ark – RTÉ2 – 5.55pm
Indiana Jones’ first big-screen adventure.
Gladiator – BBC Two – 9pm
“Are you not entertained?!”
Jaws – RTÉ2 – 10.55pm
Steven Spielberg’s breakthrough thriller is still the best shark flick ever.
A Quiet Place Part II – Film4 – 11.05pm
Cillian Murphy joins the cast of this horror thriller sequel set in a world invaded by blind monsters who hunt based on sound.
Moonage Daydream – More4 – 11.15pm
The acclaimed 2022 Davie Bowie documentary.
What’s Up, Doc? – BBC Four – 11.35pm
Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal have maybe the best onscreen chemistry ever in this hilarious screwball comedy from director Peter Bogdanovich.
The Field – RTÉ One – 11.35pm
Richard Harris, John Hurt, Sean Bean, Brenda Fricker and Tom Berenger star in this big-screen version of John B. Keane’s play.
Read more:
- An Irish movie with 97% on Rotten Tomatoes is on TV on Christmas Day
- One of the best action movies of the decade is on TV tonight
- 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
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