Film Review: CLODAGH
by Kathryn Loggins

Portia A. Buckley, Ireland, 2024

If you had the chance to change the course of someone’s life, what would you sacrifice to make that happen? And how much of that sacrifice is self-serving? The short film CLODAGH co-written and directed by Portia A. Buckley explores these themes through the eyes of a priest’s housekeeper Mrs. Kelly, who also instructs young girls in traditional Irish dance. She's a pious woman, who is kind, but firm. She takes pride in her daily tasks but feels regret about missed opportunities in her own life. When a girl named Clodagh attends one of her dance classes without the proper attire or manners, Mrs. Kelly hesitates to take a chance on her. But Clodagh turns out to be a prodigy, and Mrs. Kelly must decide if she’s willing to compromise her morals and beliefs to nurture this talent and chase the success she has longed for herself.

Shot beautifully, this film uses natural light to showcase the performances of the actors, who all imbue their characters with a complexity that is engaging and genuine. The lack of a score also gives the impression of watching something real and tangible, almost documentary-like. The sounds of mundanity—the cleaning of a tub, the slurping of soup, the footsteps in a hallway —- permeate the film and are well-suited to its tone. When we finally do hear music, it comes from the fiddler who accompanies Clodagh as she dances. This moment, which sits in contrast to the rest of the film, is meant to be rousing and it succeeds in having that effect. As the camera pushes in on Clodagh and her accompanist creating truly magical art together it’s hard not to get swept up in the pure joy these characters are exuding.