A quiet, green trip through the past: Ireland 'the Melody Isle'

Is this for you?

If you enjoy the slow, scratchy aesthetic of early cinema, you might find some peace here. If you need a movie to actually *do* something—like have a plot or characters—you will likely be bored to tears within five minutes. 🍀

It’s not really a movie in the sense that Union Depot is. There’s no big drama or snappy dialogue to latch onto.

Instead, it’s just a long, steady gaze at the rolling hills and the gray, crashing waves of the coast. The camerawork is remarkably patient, almost to a fault. Sometimes the frame just sits there on a sheep for so long you start to wonder if the projectionist fell asleep.

It reminded me a bit of the quiet, observational mood in The Butterfly Girl, though obviously much less stylized. The film has this strange, ghostly quality to it. You’re looking at people who have been gone for a very long time, just walking down a dirt road or mending a fence.

There is no narration telling you how to feel about the scenery. Thank goodness for that. Most modern travel stuff is so loud and desperate to keep your attention.

The good and the weird

The cinematography really shines when it captures the light hitting the water. It’s got that soft, hazy look that makes everything feel like a half-remembered dream. **Truly beautiful stuff**, even if it’s grainy.

However, the pacing is... let's call it 'leisurely'. There’s a scene involving a small boat that feels like it lasts for an entire decade. My attention started drifting toward the pattern of the wallpaper in my room.

Also, the transition between locations is jarring. One moment you're staring at a ruin, and suddenly you're in a busy market. No rhyme or reason to it.

It’s not nearly as energetic as Mickey's Parade, obviously. It’s more of a mood piece for someone who wants to unplug for a bit.

Some of the extras in the background look visibly confused by the camera. That’s probably the best part. You can see them trying to act natural while a giant, clunky lens is pointed directly at their faces.

I found myself wondering if they ever got to see the finished film. Probably not. ☘️

It isn't a masterpiece. It isn't even really a film by modern standards. But for a quick, quiet break from the noise of the internet, it works well enough.

Just don't go in expecting anything profound.