Irish film is rude health of late. Although Calvary might have divided critics (we loved it, some of you didn't), the likes of Song of the Sea and Glassland are enjoying almost universal praise from critics and audiences alike. That being said, there have been some misfires here and there, as with any national cinema. Some of have been glaring, others are simply just not living up to their potential.
You're Ugly Too sees debut writer / director Mark Noonan craft a story about redemption and making amends with oneself in townland Ireland. Aiden Gillen is a recently released convict who meets up with his niece, played by a precocious Lauren Kinsella. As the story progresses, we find that Gillen has been hiding certain elements of his past in an attempt to start over whilst Kinsella is reeling from the recent death of her mother. The two set up shop in a trailer park where they're forced into a confined space and try to begin a life together. Gillen is dealing with the realities of his situation and tries to find work, despite his status as a former prisoner. Along the way, he encounters Emilie, played by Belgian actress Erika Sainte, who offers to tutor Lauren after a violent encounter with her abusive husband.
Gillen gives a measured performance in You're Ugly Too; a welcome antidote to his overblown theatrics in TV's Game of Thrones and Haughey. We forget that when he's not working with an odd accent, he's actually a damn fine actor who's capable of displaying real vulnerability and heart. Likewise, Lauren Kinsella gives a standout performance as the wounded child who's trying to comprehend what's going on without letting her guard slip. The interplay between Sainte and Gillen is affecting, especially when you throw in the bullish George Pistereanu who plays her husband. Cinematography gives the town and trailer park a beautiful washed-out palette that sparkles here and there with light and colour, whilst Bell X1's David Geraghty's slight soundtrack fits nicely over the imagery.
The problem, sadly, with You're Ugly Too is that it gets stale and boring pretty early on. Clocking in at a lean one hour and twenty minutes, the film feels sluggish in places and lacks any kind of pace. It ambles along without any sense of purpose, merely just giving us a small glimpse into their lives. That's fine and all, but the story itself isn't interesting enough to hold your attention. You're Ugly Too is more of a character study than a narrative. On the former, it works beautifully. We really get a sense of Gillen's motivations and Kinsella marks herself out as a talent to watch. As a story, however, it's definitely lacking.
That being said, You're Ugly Too is a pleasing enough experience and reminds us again that Irish cinema is doing very well for itself.