In the short film written and directed by Tom Berkeley and Ross Whit, two brothers reconcile in rural Northern Ireland following their mother’s untimely death. We are introduced to brothers Lorcan and Turlough, played by James Martin and Seamus O’Hara, respectively, who find themselves back at home together in Northern Ireland for the first time in many years. The future of the duo becomes a major focus of the film.
Despite being very intelligent and independent, Lorcan has Down syndrome, and he cannot be left alone. Therefore, whether they want to or not, the two brothers must come to a decision. They also receive a list of things their mother wanted to do before she passed away but was unable to do so.
To follow Turlough wherever he goes, Lorcan encourages his brother to first experience everything on the list with the mother’s ashes. While his brother is not particularly eager to return to rural life, Lorcan wants to stay on the family farm because he feels at home there and cannot imagine leaving it behind. The plot gets even more interesting as it progresses.
James Martin does an excellent job acting as the brother with Down syndrome. Lorcan is first and foremost to us a human being, not just someone who is disabled. The movie is driven by his performance. Lorcan has heart and soul and is a powerful character. Seamus O’Hara offers a brilliant performance in which he portrays Turlough’s struggles as the sibling who must bear the burden of all decisions. However, he gradually learns to be the voice of his brother.
It transforms a tragic tale of loss into laughter and brotherly love. Those brothers are brought to life by James Martin and Seamus O’Hara, and seeing them get back together is heart-warming. Even though this movie is only 23 minutes long, it still managed to have a special place in my heart. A lovely message is delivered at the end, and there is a fantastic story, excellent acting, well-written characters, engaging drama blended with genuinely delightful humour, etc. An Irish Goodbye won the Academy Award for Best Short Film in 2023.
