The Quiet Girl (Irish title An Cailín Ciúin) is Colm Bairéad’s 2022 Irish-language feature debut, adapted from Claire Keegan’s short story Foster. It follows Cáit, a neglected young girl sent to stay with relatives for a summer, and it is a fiction film, not a documentary. Calling it one of the most heartbreaking movies in ages is an editorial judgment rather than a measurable fact, but the film gives that judgment solid material: a restrained point of view, a child slowly learning what affection feels like, and adults whose grief is mostly kept out of sight.
What the film is
- Titles: The Irish title is An Cailín Ciúin. The English release title is The Quiet Girl.
- Setting and premise: Rural Ireland in 1981. Cáit is sent away from her own household for a summer and placed with relatives.
- Creative team: Colm Bairéad wrote and directed the film. His official film page identifies it as his narrative feature debut and as an adaptation of Foster.
- Language: The dialogue is in Irish, with English subtitles, according to the Siskel Film Center’s listing.
- Runtime: Listings give either 94 or 95 minutes. The figure can vary by source or edition, so use the runtime printed on the specific release you are watching or recommending.
Why it hits so hard
A restrained point of view
The film stays close to Cáit and does not hurry to explain her. Screen Ireland describes it as an intricate, deeply felt coming-of-age drama that examines family through the eyes of a neglected girl. That perspective is the key to its power: the audience learns about the household she came from, and about the new one, largely by watching how she reacts to small kindnesses and to silences she is not yet sure how to read.
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![The Quiet Girl [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51VH24Vo69L._SL160_.jpg)
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The Quiet Girl [Blu-ray] | $20.68 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Quiet American | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Paradise | $3.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Cinderella (1950) | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Affection as something she has to learn
The central contrast is between the care and attention Cáit receives in a temporary home and the neglect she has known. Much of the emotional weight comes from that comparison. Because the household she is staying in is not presented as perfect, the film avoids a simple rescue story, and the warmth she experiences feels fragile rather than guaranteed.
Grief the adults do not name
The adults around Cáit carry losses that the film rarely states outright. Reading those concealed griefs is an interpretation, but it is one the film invites, and it is why the story lingers after the final scene. Viewers who expect the characters to explain themselves will find the restraint frustrating at first, and that frustration is part of the effect.
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#1 Best Overall
Where the story comes from
The source is Claire Keegan’s Foster. The film is not presented here as a scene-by-scene translation of that text; the most reliable statements concern its premise, its emotional arc and its central relationships. Readers who want to compare the two can start with the book.
Grove Atlantic lists Foster as a hardcover (ISBN 978-0-8021-6014-0, published November 1, 2022), with an ebook also available. Check the retailer you use for current stock and the exact edition, since availability and formats differ by market.
Rank #2
Awards and box office
The figures below are dated milestones, not running totals. Each one is qualified by its publisher and date.
| Recognition or figure | Date | Source | What it does and does not show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin Generation Kplus International Jury Grand Prix | Not stated in the cited listing | Siskel Film Center awards summary | A festival award. It is not a box-office or viewing figure. |
| Seven IFTA awards, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress | 2022 | Screen Ireland, reporting the Irish Film & Television Academy results | Wins at the Irish awards ceremony. These are Irish industry honours. |
| €600,000 UK and Irish box office | Announced June 10, 2022 | Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland | A contemporaneous milestone at that point in its run. It is not the final gross. |
| €1 million UK and Irish box office after 22 weeks | 2023 announcement | Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland | A historical milestone for UK and Irish cinemas. It is not a current gross and not a worldwide total. |
| Academy Award nomination, Best International Feature Film | 95th Academy Awards, 2023 | Screen Ireland Oscar shortlist announcement; Siskel Film Center | A nomination only. The film did not win the award. |
Where to watch
Availability depends on the country, the month and whether you want to stream, rent, buy or own a disc. The listings below show what was visible when each source was checked; they are not a guarantee of current rights.
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| Territory or retailer | Options shown | Date of listing |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom: BFI Player | Subscription option | Not stated |
| United States: JustWatch aggregator | Free, ad-supported services and transactional options, including Amazon Video and other stores; DVD and Blu-ray listings | September 29, 2026 |
| Localized Prime Video page (country not stated) | Rental and purchase options; physical formats | Not stated |
How to check before you press play
- Confirm the country on the retailer page, because the same title can carry different rights in different markets.
- Compare subtitle options. The film is in Irish with English subtitles, and not every service lists the subtitle track clearly.
- For DVD or Blu-ray, check the disc’s region coding and edition before buying, since physical releases vary by market.
- Look at the price on the day you buy. Rental and purchase prices are not reproduced here.
The verdict worth carrying into the film
The “most heartbreaking” label is subjective, but it rests on identifiable choices: a viewpoint that stays with a neglected child, a story built on the gap between care and neglect, and adults who keep their sorrow private. If you watch it expecting a conventional plot, the restraint may feel slow. If you watch it for the slow accumulation of what goes unsaid, it is among the strongest Irish films of its period.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
