Christy

Never mind Irish whimsy, this is Irish grit as described by director Brendan Canty in his debut feature, which won’t win any plaudits from Tourism Ireland but will surely put him on the ladder as a talent to watch with a debut feature that is touching, compelling and full of humanity.

Set in the director’s home town of Cork it is essentially a coming-of-age story in which Christy, a foster youngster, finds himself on the mean streets after getting into a fight at his place of abode. He seeks refuge and finds it with his brother, his girlfriend and their young child who live on the wrong side of the tracks in a rundown and tough neighbourhood.

While he keeps up the search for his own place he begins to discover more about himself, the loyalty he has for his half-sibling as well as a sense of community even within the most straitened circumstances.

Whatever else the film reeks of authenticity with foster children, deliberately enlisted among the cast and crew, giving the production a real sense of roots in its surroundings and characters.

Canty expanded the narrative from his 2019 short film and each character is now sharply etched and credible alongside the principals - Daniel Power as Christy and Diarmaid Noyes as his half-brother Shane and Emma Willis as Shane’s young wife and mother of his child. The relationship between the two young men gives the film its anchor and focus.

The director and his writer Alan O’Gorman take care to give layers of hope and optimism despite the broken-down estate and frequently desperate situations. It’s the restrained sympathy for the characters which avoids taking the film in a different and more obvious direction, and lends a feeling of a fresh and truthful vision.

The film will be released in Ireland Ireland on Friday, 29 August and in the UK from Friday, 5 September

Reviewed on: 21 Jul 2025