Horseshoe

Horseshoe 

Directed by Adam O'Keeffe & Edwin Mullane

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the opening night of the San Francisco Irish Film Festival. A lovely cultural event that has been going on for 20+ years, and the premiere film HORSESHOE is a total delight.

Taking place in the Irish countryside, our story begins as 4 estranged adult siblings all come back together home to deal with their late father's estate and will. Loaded with trauma and sass, each of the siblings have their own stuff to work with themselves and each other. 

Low-key and authentic in its emotions, HORSESHOE is both funny and striking in its more serious moments. The 4 siblings as well as the recurring image of the deceased father there to help them work through their issues, make up most of the cast. The idyllic countryside imagery is stunning as well as the big gorgeous house a majority of the movie takes place in.

That said, this still feels like an intimate play. The cast feels so real, you really think they're a family. It's funny, beautiful to look at. Somehow both modern in it's sensibilities, and yet quite classic and old fashioned. The siblings bicker and argue as they all must come to an agreement about the house. Will they keep it or sell? 

Taking place over the course of about 24 hours, there's laughter and fighting. Yoga and singing. LSD parties and maybe a gay twist? Family is important but so is living the life you want the way you want to. Let go of that trauma and hug your siblings. 

☆☆☆1/2 out of 4