In this episode of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael discuss That They May Face the Rising Sun (2023), the quietly powerful Irish film adapted from John McGahern’s novel. Set in rural Ireland, the film observes everyday life, community bonds, and the passing of time with a patient, unshowy eye.

Through the show’s voice-note conversation format, the hosts talk about the film’s observational style, its relationship to Irish identity, and how it finds drama in stillness rather than plot. They also discuss how the adaptation handles McGahern’s work, and why the film’s restraint makes it such a distinctive piece of Irish cinema.

Spoilers throughout.

🎧 Cinema Callback — where movies call you back.