Being from Ireland, I had heard alot about this film 4 or 5 months ago when it cleaned up at the IFTA's (Irish Film and Television Awards) so I was looking forward to seeing this and how one of Ireland's top comedians (Pat Shortt who plays Josie) fitted into the big screen in a serious role.

Without giving too much of the plot away, it is set in deep rural Ireland where Josie (a very simple but kind hearted man) works in a quiet filling station and takes pride in his job so much that he bases his whole life around it. Josie - a man who one knows wouldn't hurt a fly - is the subject of much ridicule in the village's pub and he is easily taken advantage of. When a new apprentice starts working with Josie (15yr old David), the two strike up a good friendship ...... mainly due to Josie's below average intelligence and child-like characteristics. But things take an unexpected turn 30 mins from the end as Josie makes a simple but serious mistake that determines the rest of his… more »

Being from Ireland, I had heard alot about this film 4 or 5 months ago when it cleaned up at the IFTA's (Irish Film and Television Awards) so I was looking forward to seeing this and how one of Ireland's top comedians (Pat Shortt who plays Josie) fitted into the big screen in a serious role.

Without giving too much of the plot away, it is set in deep rural Ireland where Josie (a very simple but kind hearted man) works in a quiet filling station and takes pride in his job so much that he bases his whole life around it. Josie - a man who one knows wouldn't hurt a fly - is the subject of much ridicule in the village's pub and he is easily taken advantage of. When a new apprentice starts working with Josie (15yr old David), the two strike up a good friendship ...... mainly due to Josie's below average intelligence and child-like characteristics. But things take an unexpected turn 30 mins from the end as Josie makes a simple but serious mistake that determines the rest of his life.

As I am from rural Ireland, I immediately associated with the small Iirsh village and all the main characters in the film as I know people in my own life just like them . This film then may seem 'foreign' and highly fictious to people from cities or urban areas in the UK or Ireland but for me it was a film that stayed with me for a long time due to its' heartbreaking ending. Highly recommended.