Drama
2014 Ireland
102 minutes
Language: English
Subtitles:
Director: Terry McMahon
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2889112/?ref_=fn_t_3
Watch film on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O_Gop28k00
Short synopsis
Patrick is a warm, open 26 year old man with what seem to be mental health issues. Pills and his mother`s protection is seen by everyone as the sole things helping him from being a threat to himself and others. That is, until he falls in love with Karen, who has another opinion. This is a provocative and heartbreaking story about love and intimacy, abuse from a parent and from society, and it is about a repressive medical model.
Summary
This drama follows Patrick, a young man diagnosed with schizophrenia at 14, who lives in an institutional setting. His only family is his mother, who has raised him alone since his father left when he was 15. Her overprotectiveness initially appears understandable, given Patrick’s vulnerability.
One night, Patrick wanders the town alone and returns home with a stranger named Karen, who is herself in a serious crisis and seeking one last night of intimacy before she takes her own life. They share a profoundly intimate and transformative experience, marking Patrick’s sexual debut as a powerful and eye-opening human connection. Yet what serves as a turning point for both Patrick and Karen is seen by his mother as a threat.
The story portrays a form of care that borders on oppression, where the mother’s needs dominate, suggesting that Patrick cannot manage without her. As a result, he grows increasingly ill, disillusioned, and unhappy in an environment structured largely around preserving her perspective.
The film concludes with a poignant reversal: the mother reaches a breaking point and finally asks for help—this time for herself. Overall, the film is a gripping psychological drama, elevated by extraordinary performances. It explores the complex interplay of love and power, showing how care can sometimes take the form of control, and how detachment and respect are difficult in relationships built on dependency. The ending is both moving and beautifully rendered.