Gassland 2014

     The setting of this film is Dublin, Ireland.  John drives a taxi in order to put food on the table.  His mother Jean has been drinking since she gave birth to a son with Downs syndrome.  Her husband left her after the birth and she hasn’t seen him since.  John is trying to get Jean to stop drinking, it’s damaging her liver and she will die if she doesn’t quit.  He convinces her to go to a treatment center but the free clinic can only keep her for one week. 

     This is a very dark movie and there is more going on than we really know?  A man on a horse gives John money?  John goes into what looks like a deserted house but there is an Asian woman in the bathtub?  She has been abused and she is delirious?  John takes her to the director of the free treatment center for help?  Somehow John raises $8000 to get Jean further treatment for her drinking at the center?  I would like to fill in these blanks but how?  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)

93 min, Drama directed by Gerard Barrett with Will Poulter, Toni Collette, Jack Reynor, Michael Smiley, Laura Byrne, Joe Mullins, Ally Ni Chiarain, Shahi Rami, Kian Murphy, Gary O’Nuallain, Graham Earley, D.J. McGrath.

Note:  Imdb 6.0 out of 10, 83% audience 44% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Amazon 2.8* out of 5* with 7 reviews, Metacritic 66 out of 100 with 16 critics.

Special Note:  Filmed in Dublin City, Ireland.  Toni Collette filmed her scenes in six days.