The journey there is trepedacious in itself, and she soon feels very alone in the world. While there she experiences a great many trials and joys, each tearing at the heartstrings of Eilis and the audience alike.
When a great tragedy brings her back to Ireland , she is forced to consider where her heart and home truly live.
The story is at the same time familiar and unexpected. It warms the heart and is portrayed so beautifully by accurate costuming, stunning natural lighting and filming, a lovely accompanying soundtrack, and wonderful actors that bring a lot of heart to the film.
This film is one of those unexpected gems. It tells a relatively simple story so elegantly, and touches the audience in different ways. As I left the cinema, I heard one elderly woman express how tormented she would have felt had her daughter left for another country, one such instance that proved there was so much dimension to this film.
This film isn't even shown in every cinema, but if you have the opportunity to reach one, I strongly encourage you to see it - just be sure to bring a friend, or a family member, and a box of tissues, you'll need the whole box for this one.
Five Quills out of Five.
