Smalltown has quietly become the Irish TV drama of the year
Kerry director Gerard Barrett has been making a name for himself for quite some time. His critically acclaimed flick Pilgrim Hill earned him the Rising Star IFTA Award at the tender age of 26. Not content with that, he went on to make Glassland starring Jack Reynor and Toni Collette. He will soon be making his mark Stateside with Brain on Fire, starring Chloe Grace Moretz.
Smalltown, however, marks the young director's first foray into television, and the three-part drama finished up last night on TV3. Starring Pat Shortt and Charlie Kelly in a breakout role, it tells the story of Conor (Kelly). His father (Shortt) and mother (Pauline O'Driscoll) urge him to head for pastures new in London. However, he must return later down the line when his mother gets sick. It follows his struggle to re-adapt to his hometown and the changes that have taken place while he's been away, both in the town and in his relationships with the people in it. Then, he finds himself suddenly faced with the impending and untimely death of his mother.
While there's no doubt those that watched it were hooked, Smalltown seems to have come and gone without much fuss. A pity, as it's undoubtedly the most compelling Irish drama we've had in quite some time. The magic of Smalltown comes from Barrett's writing and the fantastic cast who made it feel as real as if your own family was going through it. There are no over-dramatic performances; the raw heartbreak of it came sometimes in moments without any dialogue at all.
Those that haven't seen Pat Shortt in Lenny Abrahamson 2007's flick Garage may make the mistake of considering him a one-trick pony. Don't be fooled. Shortt's performance in Smalltown proves yet again he has far more range than he is often given credit for. The subtle nuances he brings to his character makes him as familiar as if he was your own lovable yet typically emotionally inept Irish dad.
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In fact, the incredible realism of Smalltown is something that Barrett has always excelled in. He conveys the everyday idiosyncrasies of Irish life without exaggeration or pointedness. From the all too familiar family dynamic we saw in the opening episode, to the heartbreaking way they dealt with the mother's death.
Last night's episode saw the family say a final goodbye to her in their home. Anybody who has ever had to deal with this kind of personal tragedy will know just how gut-wrenchingly accurate the scene was. It was one of the most poignant and devastating moments we've ever had on Irish television, bar none. The funeral that followed, the endless tea, the community rallying around, all scenes many will sadly know too well. Barrett shines a very personal light on death - an aspect of life we mark so well in Ireland but rarely talk about.
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Yes, we know, we are making this sound very depressing. However, Barrett wasn't cruel enough to leave us in our grief. The final scenes with Tom and his sons talking managed to leave things on an uplifting note. Tom finds the words to tell his sons that he'll love them double the amount now. They joke, 'Ah you're grand too, Dad'.
Smalltown proves that a good drama doesn't always need crime or grit or violence. Sometimes the most powerful of television can just be watching three men plod into the kitchen together to make a cup of tea in the aftermath of losing the most important woman in their lives, and know they were somehow going to find a way to be okay.
