A sleepy Irish fishing community is destabilised by the return of Brian (Paul Mescal), the errant son of Aileen O’Hara (Emily Watson), who shows up unexpectedly at the funeral for a local fisherman, announcing his intention to revive his brother-in-law’s defunct oyster farm. Aileen’s husband, Con (Declan Conlon), has become estranged during Brian’s extended absence, and her relationship with adult daughter Erin (Toni O’Rourke), a new mother, isn’t as warm as it ought to be. While Aileen welcomes Brian with open arms, not everyone in the family or community does, in particular his ex-girlfriend, Sarah (Aisling Franciosi), who broke his heart years ago. For Aileen, Brian’s return is a beacon of light and hope in her otherwise stifled existence, but her unfailing loyalty to her son is soon tested when sinister allegations about him begin to surface.

Notes by David O’Mahony

Screening as part of Best of Irish 2023.