Arracht


Arracht is a 2019 Irish period drama film directed and written by Tomás Ó Súilleabháin set during the Great Famine of Ireland.

Plot

On the wild shores of Connemara in 1845, Colmán Sharkey, a fisherman, farmer and father watches as the Great Hunger of the famine descends on his community. One faithful night he confronts his landlord about raising the cost of rent for his tenants as potato blight causes crop to fail. The events of that night end in violence forces to go on the run for a crime he didn't commit against the backdrop of starvation of the people in his community. As the years pass in solitude, Colmán loses hope in living anymore but events turn as he returns to the mainland and encounters a young girl, Kitty and a life-saving friendship develops.

Cast

Production

Location filming took place in Lettermullan, County Galway. It was financially backed by Screen Ireland, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and TG4.

Release

Arracht received its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia on 29 November 2019.
The Irish premiere was at the Dublin International Film Festival on 28 February 2020. The film was supposed to receive its general release on 3 April 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of all cinemas. Arracht had its UK premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival on 8 March 2020, and won the Audience Award. Arracht screened at the online editions of the 66th Taormina Film Festival in Italy, and the 32nd Galway Film Fleadh on Sunday, 12 July.

Critical response

said that "although Arracht could be improved by some shifts in emphasis to give the latter half of the plot more clarity and emphasis, still pulls off an authentic drama/thriller, with a powerful impact."
The Irish Times wrote that it was "unmissable" and "beautifully crafted."

Accolades