Rialto

Rialto is a 2019 Irish drama film starring Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Tom Glynn-Carney, and Monica Dolan. The movie is directed by Peter Mackie Burns and is based on a play by Mark O'Halloran. The film takes place in Dublin, Ireland and follows the life of Colm, a middle-aged man who is struggling with the complexities of his own identity after the loss of his father.

The movie starts with Colm, a dockworker in Dublin, struggling to come to terms with his father's death. He is going through a midlife crisis and is finding it difficult to manage his emotions, as well as his job and his family. He has been with his wife Claire for 25 years, and they have two teenage children, but his marriage is beginning to break down due to his erratic behavior.

Things change for Colm when he meets Jay, a young man who works in a massage parlour. Jay is confident and self-assured, and Colm is drawn to him. They have a series of encounters and Colm starts to feel alive again. However, his new-found freedom comes at a cost, and he finds himself starting to lose everything he holds dear.

The film explores themes of grief, masculinity, and sexuality. Colm is grappling with the loss of his father, but he is also struggling with his own identity. He has always seen himself as a provider and a family man, but he is starting to realize that there is more to him than that. He is forced to confront his own desires and emotions, and this creates new challenges for him.

The relationship between Colm and Jay is complex. Jay is confident and sure of himself, which is attractive to Colm, but their encounters are also fraught. Jay is not just a sexual partner for Colm, he is also a source of emotional support. However, Jay has his own problems, and he is not always the stable influence that Colm needs.

The acting in Rialto is exceptional. Tom Vaughan-Lawlor gives a nuanced and powerful performance as Colm, capturing the character's inner turmoil perfectly. Tom Glynn-Carney is also excellent as Jay, bringing a sense of danger and vulnerability to the role. Monica Dolan is great as Colm's wife Claire, conveying the pain of a woman who is struggling to hold her family together.

The film is beautifully shot, with a great use of light and darkness to create a sense of intensity and atmosphere. The soundtrack is also fantastic, with a mixture of traditional Irish music and more contemporary tracks.

Overall, Rialto is a thought-provoking and powerful movie that explores complex themes with subtlety and sensitivity. It is a film about loss, love, and the search for personal identity. The performances are outstanding, and the direction is excellent. This is a movie that will stay with you long after the credits roll.