JOYRIDE

Ireland, 2022, 95 minutes, Colour.

Olivia Coleman, Charley Reid, Lochlann O'Mearain.

Directed by Emer Reynolds.

Joyride is a brief Irish film, small-budget. It is a road film, an unlikely duo driving through the Kerry countryside.

The odd couple comprises a 14-year-old boy, Charlie Reid in his first screen performance, very convincing, and Oscar-winning veteran, Olivia Coleman as the solicitor in the town, having given birth to a baby, wanting to get to the town where her sister lives and entrust her with the child.

The film introduces Molly, Charlie Reid, singing in the pub, raising money for his dead mother’s charity, remembering scenes on the beach with her. His father is a Rogue, takes the money, Molly getting it back and rushing into a taxi, not noticing Joy and the baby in the back.

Antagonism at first, then cooperation, a whole lot of incidents along the way, taking different cars, some crashing, breaking through a police barrier, diluting the pursuing father on a ferry.

A lot of close-ups of the baby, its various moods, and the difficulty for the mother in feeding, with Molly showing great tenderness towards the baby.

There is a dramatic crisis the end, the rogue father and his opting for money rather than for his son in the water, rescued by Joy.

A small film, well acted, Irish atmosphere.

1. An Irish story, characters, situations, emotions?
2. The title, a road film, the roads of Ireland, cars, trucks, ferries? The musical score?
3. The focus on Mully, age 14, singing in the pub, raising the money for his dead mother’s charity, the flashbacks to him on the beach with her, her photo? His father, a rogue, stealing the charity money? The audience, the applause, Mully confronting his father? Taking the money?
4. Getting into the taxi, driving, the discovery of the baby, the discovery of Joy? His dilemmas, driving, Joy and her reaction?
5. Joy’s story, solicitor, in the town, knowing Mully, his father, friends from school with his mother? Her unexpected pregnancy, giving birth? Wanting to get to her sister’s house, giving her the baby? The plan to take the plane journey and escape?
6. The interactions between the two, Mully, assertive, the issue of the money, his care for the baby, tender? Joy, her determination, the interactions with Mully, hostile, assertive, the care for the baby, its crying, the milk? The driving, the crash, no more milk? Breast feeding the baby, the baby and willing, Mully encouraging the baby and Joy?
7. The back stories, gradually emerging, Joy and her work as a solicitor, her skills, no explanation of the pregnancy? Mully, the clashes with his father, the phone calls? The father and his plan to meet the couple at the ferry?
8. Characters along the way, the diner, caravans, the ferry and the woman selling the food…? Particularly Irish?
9. The bonding between the two, supporting each other, the baby, decisions about where to drive? Getting the ferry, the pursuit by James? The friendly captain on the ferry?
10. The variety of cars, taking them, crashing, the device of getting through the police barrier, Mully in the boot, discovered, Joy driving off?
11. Joy, going to her sister, the bonds between them, taking the baby? Going to the plane, buying the clothes, the ticket, demanding to get off the plane, the encounter with Mully?
12. The return, on the beach, Mully going into the water, the flashbacks for Joy, with her demanding mother, supervision, her sister, Joy floundering the water, her mother leaving her, eventually rescuing her?
13. James, the money, not going after his son, Joy rescuing him, audience harsh judgement on James, and hopes for Joy and money for the future?