MOVIE TITLE: That They May Face The Rising Sun

This lovely drama opens in theaters on April 11, 2025

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 51 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A

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IN A NUTSHELL:

This film is an adaptation of John McGahern’s last novel.

The film was directed by Pat Collins. Screenwriting credits also go to Pat Collins and Eamon Little, illustrating rural life in Ireland in the 1980s.

Already, the movie has been nominated for 12 awards and won 3 from various international film festivals.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be completely bored.
Some Irish profanity, including several F-bombs, mostly spoken by a crusty, old character named Bill that another character describes as looking like someone from a Russian novel
We see men prepare a dead man’s body for burial

THEMES:

THINGS I LIKED:

The cast looks like real people, not slick Hollywood actors, which is refreshing
Barry Ward and Anna Bederke give such grounded, solid performances.
It was nice to see a romance between “older” people, not just young ones
Lovely cinematography.
I loved all of the background sounds of birds singing, water splashing, bees humming, utensils clanking on dishes, and shoes crunching on pebbles. The whole film feels very earthy and real.
I love the title of the film. There’s a moment early on in the movie when Barry Ward’s character looks up to take in the warmth from the sun above. Somehow, we FEEL it in that moment. That’s what the entire movie is like.
It’s touching to see how kind and patient Joe & Kate Ruttledge are to their neighbors.
The movie poster captures the easy pleasures of life that this movie illustrates.
It’s fun to hear the funny Irish expressions that the Irish use.
I had the great pleasure of finally visiting Ireland a couple of years ago. So lovely. I have ancestors from Ireland!
The Christmas day scenes were sweet.
Which side of the chicken wing has the most feathers? The outside! Ha ha
The title of the film comes from the very last scene of the movie.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

I was surprised that the image used in the beginning during the opening credits wasn’t footage. The image was lovely, but would have been better as film. That being said, it could have been footage but I didn’t see movement. We see the same image at the very end of the movie but that time, I did see movement.
Sometimes, it’s hard to understand what everyone says due to the thick Irish accent.
There will be some who don’t enjoy this kind of film because they want something to “happen”.

INTERESTING LINES:

“You know, the rain comes down, the sun shines, grass grows, children grow old and die. That’s the wholly all of it. We all know it fully well, but can’t even whisper it.” – Jamesie Murphy (Phillip Dolan)
“Tell the truth and ask no favors.” – Patrick Ryan (Lalor Roddy)
“Isn’t that the beauty of it: living day to day?” – Joe Ruttledge (Barry Ward)
I just really wanted to get into some of those super old farmhouses to clean them.
“What use is regret? You can’t light the fire with regret.” – Johnny Murphy (Sean McGinley)