Ballywalter

Seána Kerslake is superb as caustic cab driver, Eileen, who makes an unlikely connection with regular passenger and local comedian, Shane (Patrick Kielty), in Prasanna Puwanarajah’s charming debut.

Seána Kerslake (Bad Sisters) and Patrick Kielty play a cabbie and her regular passenger, a local comedian, who form a vital, if unlikely, friendship. Her bitterness and his reticence initially present an obstacle, but as she ferries him from gig to gig, they begin to find common ground; their friendship becomes deeper and more affecting as their backstories are revealed.

Prasanna Puwanarajah’s Northern Ireland set film is bolstered by two superb performances from Kerslake and Kielty, the latter particularly impressive in his first dramatic role. Ballywalter was made with the support of the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding.