Cast: Hazel Doupe, Clare Dunne, Peter Coonan, Aaron Monaghan and Liadán Dunlea
Genre: Drama
Director: Eva Birthistle
In Irish Cinemas: 18th October 2024
“Kathleen Is Here” marks a compelling directorial debut from acclaimed Irish actor Eva Birthistle. In this emotionally charged drama, Birthistle brings a deeply personal and poignant story to the screen, exploring the struggles and resilience of a young woman named Kathleen. Recently aged out of the care system, Kathleen finds herself returning to the home where she spent her early childhood, a place filled with memories both painful and bittersweet. As she navigates this fragile reunion with her past, Kathleen must confront the trauma, abandonment, and unresolved emotions that shaped her upbringing. Birthistle masterfully weaves themes of identity, belonging, and the search for closure, creating a narrative that resonates with raw authenticity. Through its intimate storytelling and rich character development, “Kathleen Is Here” explores the complexities of growing up in the care system while offering a touching meditation on healing, survival, and reclaiming one’s sense of self. This film cements Eva Birthistle’s voice as a filmmaker and shines a light on the often-overlooked journeys of those who have experienced the foster care system.
Adapted from her 2020 short film Kathleen Was Here, Kate Birthistle’s latest work expands upon the emotional depth of the original 10-minute piece. The story centres around a vulnerable adult, formerly in the care system, who returns to her childhood home following the death of her mother—a figure whose memory continues to haunt her. This expanded narrative delves deeper into themes of loss, trauma, and unresolved familial relationships, exploring the psychological and emotional impact of returning to a place filled with painful memories.
Birthistle builds upon the atmospheric tone of the earlier work, reinterpreting the memory-flashback sequences and weaving them into the framework of a tense psychological drama-thriller. At its core is the unsettling presence of an “Unwelcomed intruder” figure, creating a sense of growing unease that intensifies toward an almost nail-biting conclusion. While some plot mechanics required to drive the narrative might feel somewhat contrived, the overall structure holds together effectively. Birthistle’s direction stands out, guiding the actors with strength and sensitivity, bringing depth and nuance to their performances.
Hazel Doupe reprises her role as Kathleen, now in her late teens, returning to the tumultuous small-town home where her late mother once lived. Disillusioned and adrift, Kathleen feels trapped in boredom and depression, fixating on the unattainable perfection of celebrity lives. Her stagnant world is shaken when she forms a bond with Dee, a warm-hearted neighbour played by Clare Dunne, known for her role in Herself (a film she co-wrote and starred in).
Dee offers Kathleen the kind of friendship and acceptance she craves, introducing her to her husband Rory (Peter Coonan) and their young son. However, beneath Kathleen’s troubled exterior lies a more dangerous obsession. In a fractured and emotionally parasitic way, Kathleen becomes fixated on Dee, morphing into an obsessive and impulsive mirroring person. She envies Dee’s seemingly perfect life and subtly begins to undermine her marriage, driven by a twisted desire to replace Rory and insert herself into Dee’s world.
There are several sharply executed moments, such as Kathleen’s sly use of a selfie to manipulate Dee and her carefully staged car accident, which leaves Dee’s family indebted to her. While the shift toward more familiar genre conventions may come at the cost of nuance and emotional depth, the film remains compelling and confidently told, with solid pacing and moments of clever manipulation that keep the viewer hooked.
Overall: 6.5/10
Movie Reviewer
