Masculinity in Ireland is, like everywhere else, in a wobbly state – according to this heart-on-sleeve debut feature about a Gaelic footballer too fond of the old craic. Éanna Hardwicke plays Cian, a dairy farmer, amateur sportsman and committed hedonist never slow to hit the pub after training. After roping two pals into yet another nightclub bender, he’s subjected to a brutal alleyway beating that leaves him with concussion and struggling for his bearings in life.
With a laconic quip for every eventuality, Cian won’t open up to those around him – including his agitated dad (Lorcan Cranitch), who is constantly on his case on the farm – or be frank with himself about the fact he is suffering. His standing on the football team, as well as his eagerness to down, inhale or snort whatever is on offer, seem to mean more to him than the prospect of permanent damage. Which would be a shame, given there’s some sensitivity in his noggin, coaxed out by the return of Grace (Danielle Galligan), now a nurse in London; she and Cian were a not-quite-item a few years back.
Writer-directors Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney give their increasingly introspective character study an easy swing at first. But this is a film prone to melancholy resignation when it lapses into silently observing the more grizzled drinkers around these young bucks, suggesting this could be the way of things; final confirmation is that Grace has come home to look after her father, who is dying of liver failure. This dalliance with the prodigal daughter is perhaps bit of a cliche – prodding Cian towards self-awareness – but Hardwicke and Galligan perform the dance with much charm. Rather than heavy-handed life lessons, they point with disarming simplicity the way to a fresh new dawn.
• Lakelands is released in UK and Irish cinemas on 5 May.
