One of Ireland's most exquisite piece of art of the last few years took off internationally and made it to this year's Oscars. Another mark of its success and transcendence of boundaries is its latest iteration on Tiktok.
Colm Bairéad's film based on Claire Keegan's book, Foster was beautifully shot, showing rural Ireland at its most beautiful, from green fields to dappled sunlight on bohareens. The cinematography, storytelling and perceptions of an Ireland we barely know anymore affected audiences deeply and for the first time, a film in Irish became a stunning must-watch film, rather than an Irish language film to be viewed by those who speak the language and ignored by those who don't.
An Cailín Ciúin moved those who saw it and just like Normal People before it, and as a contemporary marker of its success Tiktok users have begun taking some of the audio and using it as over stunning visuals of Ireland in the summer. The sound which has taken off is a remix of An Cailín Ciúin and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in which Seán is talking about trying to see the best in people.
Whilst it can be difficult to judge the long-term cultural impact of a piece of art, it is clear that An Cailín Ciúin has changed the game for those who create as Gaeilge.
Cé go bhfuil sé dúshlánach tionchar saothar ealaíne a mheas sa lá atá inniu ann, is léir go mbeidh agus go bhfuil tionchar fadtéarmach ag an scannán seo ar dhaoine anseo agus i bhfad i gcéin.
