The movie

Rialto

A beautifully observed story about fathers and sons, the impossibility of living up to others’ expectations and the possibility of turning the void caused by loss into something more positive.

Length: 90 min
Country: Great Britain, Ireland
Language spoken: English
Language subtitles: Dutch
Cast: Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Monica Dolan, Tom Glynn-Carney
Director: Peter Mackie Burns
Release date: 2019

Description

Grieving over the recent death of his father, 46-year-old Colm (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) has an otherwise nice life: a job in Dublin harbour, two healthy teenage children, and a lovely wife. But Colm is actually a closeted gay man. One day he has sex with Jay (Tom Glynn-Carney), a 19-year-old prostitute with a newborn and girlfriend to support. A day later Jay arrives at Colm’s office and asks for money. And then Colm learns that he is to be fired from his job due to a company reorganisation. Things begin to fall apart, but his fascination with Jay and their burgeoning mutually supportive relationship, perhaps offers Colm a way forward…

‘[Playwright Mark O’Halloran’s] screenplay is a beautifully observed story about fathers and sons, the impossibility of living up to others’ expectations and the possibility of turning the void caused by loss into something more positive. “Rialto” also features outstanding work from actors Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (Ebony Maw in the “Avengers” films) and Tom Glynn-Carney (“Dunkirk”)… [It’s] so beautifully written and performed it should do very well…’—Boyd van Hoeij, Hollywood Reporter