A Shine of Rainbows (2009)

Directed by: Vic Sarin | 101 minutes | drama, family | Actors: Connie Nielsen, Aidan Quinn, John Bell, Jack Gleeson, Tara Alice Scully, Niamh Shaw, Bonnie Bollivar, Gerald Boner, Laura Doherty, Adam Downey, Gary Healy, Kieran Lagan, Shane Mahon, Joy McBrinn, Ian McElhinney, Greg McGuinness Karl O’Neill, Fionn O’Shea, Frances Quinn, Lee Satell, Sharon Simpkins

‘A Shine of Rainbows’ is a feel-good movie based on the book of the same name by Lilian Beckwith, which sometimes crosses the line of sentimentality, but manages – despite all the drama – to convey a positive feeling.

The film is set in Ireland, on the island of Corrie off the west coast, where the couple Maire (Connie Nielsen) and Alec (Aidan Quinn) seem to have an idyllic existence. To their chagrin, however, they have no children. That is why Maire goes to an orphanage and picks up the unfortunate Tomás (John Bell), who can flourish with them and develop himself. Of course, this is not without a struggle, because tragedy is just around the corner. Maire turns out to be terminally ill and Tomás finds it difficult to get along with the dour Alec. Fortunately, he makes friends with a seal so he can find comfort in his newfound grief.

‘A Shine of Rainbows’ is an effective melodrama, with Bell’s acting being particularly striking. With his reddish hair and big, expressive eyes, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for this little boy with all the misery in his life. Bell makes the most of it and, in addition to his immediately sympathetic appearance, also shows that he can act well and naturally. You would adopt him yourself. Connie Nielsen is also excellent as the doomed Marie. What exactly is wrong with her remains unclear, but she does not look really sick. Really trained ears may notice the difference with the Irish actors, but the native Danish has a convincing Irish accent. Not an easy job, because countless actors have already stumbled over that accent, but Nielsen must have a knack for languages, because she also speaks – among others – German, French and Italian. Quinn is fine as grumpy Alec, but now doesn’t add to the role that it couldn’t have been played by a dozen others.

Beautifully shot by director Vic Sarin himself (who also has a long career as a cinematographer) the film will certainly have received a stamp of approval from the Irish Tourist Board. Anyone who doesn’t feel like booking a holiday to Ireland after watching this film has a heart of stone. To build on that last point, the makers strongly focus on the feeling in the viewer. Director Sarin does his best to bring tears to the viewers’ minds, skillfully building up those scenes so that the tissues are already at the ready, ready to use. It will certainly work in many cases, but for the more down-to-earth (male?) spectator it is all very thick. Precisely that rather pushy way of wallowing and sniffling at the film, will work against the film after a while. Nevertheless, Sarin manages to keep things in line somewhat, so that ‘A Shine of Rainbows’ remains worthwhile. The success of the film with audiences and critics was evident from the various awards the film won at international film festivals.