A film like Aontas only works if the emotional revelations land. The main character here, Mairéad, is portrayed exceptionally by Carrie Crowley. Her main partner in crime, Cáit, is stunningly brought to life by Brid Brennan. The two seem to have a reluctant partnership forged out of dire necessity. Slowly, as we build to the past, we see why this is so, and what kind of desperation could lead them to rob a bank. They both have big emotional payoffs in the latter half of the film that I won’t spoil here, but they both deliver with extraordinary sincerity.
There is a subtext that is just as important as the thriller angle. The main characters are sincere people in a small community struggling to get by in a world that seems rigged against them. Meanwhile, corporate forces or shady operators swoop into town, upending the society and turning things on their heads. They rob everyone legally, forcing the oppressed to have to rob them back illegally. It is Robin Hood meets Reservoir Dogs, and as a film fan, that’s what I’m here for.
“…you start off believing one thing about a character, only for it to be revealed that they seem to be the exact opposite…”
There are other nuances too — you start off believing one thing about a character, only for it to be revealed that they seem to be the exact opposite in the past. Early on, we find out that the mastermind behind the heist, Mairéad, is a cop. Which is the mask? Or do we all shift to extremes to cover the demons lurking inside us? Perhaps we seek order to make sense in a world of chaos, but when that fails, we have to revert to something more primal.
There are a few minor imperfections in Aontas. One or two elements are confusing. I’m sure there are answers to the confusion, but they may take repeat viewings to get as there is a lot of information and character relationships to keep straight in your head. And when a character is introduced who isn’t in the early scenes, they sit around like Chekhov’s gun because we know they will ultimately pay off in the end. Still, the overwhelming feeling one gets is that this is a wonder of construction and character revelation from the writing to the direction, editing, and acting.
Aontas played at the 2025 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
"…a rare gem..."
