Finding You (2020)

Directed by: Brian Baugh | 119 minutes | drama, romance | Actors: Rose Reid, Jedidiah Goodacre, Katherine McNamara, Patrick Bergin, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Judith Hoag, Fiona Bell, Anabel Sweeney, Tom Everett Scott, Vanessa Redgrave, Ciaran McMahon, Meg O’Brien, Marion O’Dwyer, Helen Roche Dairíne Ní Dhonnchú, Bryan Quinn, Gwynne McElveen, Natalie Britton, Trevor Kaneswaran, Orla Bell, Eva-Jane Gaffney, Michelle Hlongwane, Frank McGovern, Ken Carpenter

‘Finding You’ by director Brian Baugh has been described as a ‘Notting Hill for the youth’. And that’s right like a bus, because the storyline is based on almost the same pattern. 18-year-old Finley Sinclair (a fresh Rose Reid) ruins a violin audition at a prestigious New York conservatory, prompting her to venture out into the wider world. Shifting the beacons for a while and trying to arrive at new insights. She chooses to leave for Ireland, as her late brother did before, to study for a summer semester.

On the plane en route to her destination, she accidentally finds herself next to movie star and heartthrob Beckett Rush (infectiously played by Jedidiah Goodacre). This one is also on its way to Ireland to shoot a dragon movie there. What happens on arrival? The two youngsters are both staying at the B&B of the couple Nora (Fiona Bell) and Sean (Ciaran McMahon)!

Between the filming, Beckett acts as Finley’s personal guide and she helps him with his lyrics in return. But can Finley trust Beckett? Because is he no longer in a relationship with his regular co-star Taylor (Katherine McNamara (from ‘The Maze Runner’)? In between, Finley also has to spend quality time as a school assignment with a senior in a care home, Cathleen Sweeney (a decent Vanessa Redgrave This all leads to fun with Nora and Sean’s daughter, Emma (Saoirse-Monica Jackson from ‘The Derry Girls’), a search for Cathleen’s sister, advances from Beckett, and handy fiddle tips from fiddler/vagabond Seamus (a role by Patrick Bergin). With Beckett’s manager, his father Montgomery (Tom Everett Scott), as the evil genius, the couple must overcome some hurdles to ‘really find each other’. In the end it comes down to this: Trust the journey that you make.

‘Finding You’ is not a high-flyer, the film can rather be classified under the heading ‘cute’. Here and there quite predictable and for the beauty a little too little sharp edges, but all in all the viewer is left with a positive feeling. The beautiful views that Ireland has to offer and the infectious, lively violin music frame this sweet film. From NYC to hospitable Ireland to play chess with a handsome dragon slayer, there are worse trips…