Christy
Ireland
Country: Ireland / United Kingdom
Director: Brendan Canty
Writer: Alan O’Gorman
Cast: Danny Power, Diarmuid Noyes, Emma Willis, Helen Behan, Chris Walley, Rúaidhrí Conroy, Alison Oliver, Jamie Forde
Genre: Drama
Duration: 1h 34min (94min)
Language / Subtitles: English
Year: 2025
A lovingly crafted Irish social realist story of home and brotherhood that refreshingly pushes beyond despair and misery in favour of often bright, quietly humourous celebration of the spirit and character of the working-class heroes of its Cork setting.
The debut feature from Brendan Canty picked up a slew of nominations and awards at this year’s Irish Film and TV Awards for its tender direction and impressive lead performance from Danny Power as the title character – a teenager with a murkily remembered tragic past, who after he’s kicked out of his latest foster home returns to Cork to stay with his estranged brother. As Christy tries to figure out his future, he soon learns things he would rather forget about his past, rediscovers the relationship with the brother he thought he didn’t really know and begins to imagine a home among people in a place he might yet grow to know and love.
Winner of the Grand Prix at the Berlinale; winner of Best Irish Film at the Galway Film Fleadh; winner of four IFTA awards, including Best Film and Best Director.
A Berlin prizewinner earlier this year, Brendan Canty’s straightforward but emotionally punchy debut continues its successful festival run in Karlovy Vary’s Horizons program.
“Outstanding actors and Cork landmarks shine in a moving and funny Irish drama.” – The Guardian
“Christy is an old-fashioned coming-of-age heartwarmer with few narrative surprises but a winningly authentic sense of place, people and vernacular.” – Variety
“On a big screen, Christy is a tough and scrappy gem. In the leads, Danny Power as Christy and Diarmuid Noyes as Shane are pretty much perfect.” – The Post
“Christy has walked off with a few major festival prizes in the last 12 months, and it’s easy to see why. Also, the soundtrack is fantastic.” – The Post
