Chronicling an escalating feud between neighbouring families in the west of Ireland, Chris Andrew’s debut feature draws us into a world of breathtaking beauty populated by desperate men. Michael (Christopher Abbott), a shepherd still haunted by a tragic incident in his past, tends sheep on the family farm where he lives with his ailing, angry father Ray (Colm Meaney). Michael becomes embroiled in a dangerous dispute with his neighbour Gary (Paul Ready), who is married to his old girlfriend Caroline (Nora-Jane Noone). When their volatile son Jack (Barry Keoghan), steals two of Michael’s rams, old wounds are reopened, and the two families find themselves on a perilous collision course. Themes of patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and generational trauma underpin Chris Andrew’s gritty, elemental exploration of repressed guilt and violent retribution.

There will be Open Captioned screenings at 16.00 on Friday 7th, and 20.40 on Sunday 9th.

Are you an IFI Friend? Join us for our next IFI Cinema Club discussion after the screening of Bring Them Down at 18.15 on Tuesday, February 11th on the IFI Mezzanine!

Notes by David O’Mahony.