Peter Bodie sows seeds of appreciation in his review of Sunphlowers.
Who can resist a well-crafted story about an Irish Mammy? It’s not giving anything away to say that Sunphlowers opens with a post-funeral scene. Hearts may sink with a feeling of “oh noooooh, another Irish film about death, misery, rain and meaningful, plodding walks down muddy boreens”. But be not of faint heart. Sunphlowers is a little gem of a movie. Anne McCrudden plays the widow Catherine superbly. The role of the stoic, long-suffering but resilient Mammy may be a cliché, but Anne gives it new energy and life. Yes, there are great parts available for mature actresses.
This is a film that you need to go along with. Sure, there are points in the plot that seem slightly implausible, but that’s not important. Pull the wool over your own eyes and enjoy the performances and the beautifully framed shots from DOP Graham Seely. The silhouette scenes are especially striking. All too frequently, drone shots look like needless filler, but not the layered image pictured above. Teamed with the immersive sound design, this is a brief moment of compositional mastery.
Teeming with notable performances, Sunphlowers is a tender tale of how a family and a community respond to a crisis. Patrick Bergin as Tony plays the sort-of love interest and even sings a song. This gets even better: while admiring a painting, he gets to deliver lines like “I love your use of colour” without even a hint of a giggle. The ever-energetic Jerry Fish (and all of his eccentric facial hair) plays the sweet and supportive art teacher deftly. A chorus of True Friends (a song recorded by Jerry) is carefully placed in the film and adds to the general warm atmosphere. This impromptu moment fits perfectly.
Inspiring but very laid-back, Sunphlowers is not a preachy affair, rather it delivers a strong message about living your best life. All in all, a very enjoyable experience. Treat yourself - make sure to see it.
Sunphlowers is in cinemas on 19th September 2025.
