If you’ve ever wondered what could go wrong when an Irish farmer’s sheep gets stolen, Bring Them Down has the answers for you.
Director Chris Andrews premieres his debut feature film at TIFF, a thriller with the simple premise of two families’ conflict building and boiling over with the backdrop of the Irish countryside. Christopher Abbott (Poor Things, Sanctuary) plays Michael, a shepherd with a guilty past, who accuses Jack’s (Barry Keoghan) family of stealing two of his best sheep. The feud spawns violence and revenge, as they go through mud and fog and reveal the darker parts of humanity.
Isaac Hung
Bring Them Down has a simple narrative, but being told in a fractured non-linear way adds tension and mystery to the story, providing the audience with both sides of the story told from two perspectives. The driving force of the film is undoubtedly the gripping performances from Abbott and Keoghan. The two seasonal actors deliver layered performances that are nothing less than expected. Michael (Abbott) is irrational, radical, and ill-tempered, whereas Jack (Keoghan) is timid, juvenile, and emotional. It offers an interesting dynamic as they navigate the events of the film. Michael has so much guilt and responsibility in him, his mother died in a car crash because of him; his father Ray (Colm Meaney) is disabled and the burden of the shepherding lies on him. Jack has high expectations from his father and often struggles to express his vulnerability. The stark contrast between the two main characters allows us to empathize with both of their actions, as director Andrews blurs the lines of morality.
Originally placed to be shot in England, the film was later moved to Ireland, being even closer to the source of the story. The Irish countryside is essential to the film, as the vast majority of the scenes are shot outdoors. From flocks of sheep running across the hills to a car chase across the muddy roads, the location is an excellent canvas for the cinematography of the film, benefitting its drive to be an authentically Irish film.
It’s also a familiar environment for director Chris Andrews, who grew up in Cumbria, England. The film was shot in Wicklow, Ireland, and he said, “There is a similarity in terms of the landscape, the mountains, it feels the same, the people are very much the same.”
When I asked him about the experience shooting the film, he replied, “It was amazing, we’ve created such a family atmosphere, the whole crew and the cast.” However don’t let the cinematography of the film fool you, as it wasn’t completely smooth sailing. Andrews said, “I have one shot of rain, I was really upset. I wanted rain, wind, I wanted snow, I wanted fog, and we got one shot of rain – it’s in the film. I wanted to create a soundscape, but the elements weren’t quite enough. It was cold but we had constant light for five weeks.”
Courtesy of Tailored Films
A part of the film’s authenticity involves the actors speaking Irish, mainly by Abbott and Meaney. While the latter is Irish himself, Abbott is an American actor, who had to learn Irish lines on top of an Irish accent for his dialogue in English.
On the red carpet before the world premiere at TIFF, I got to ask him what the process was like, he said it was “a lot of work” and “obviously scary when you’re shooting an Irish film with an entirely Irish crew.” While my ears aren’t the best to attest to his Irish, it was more than enough to convince my untrained ears. He said, “It puts you in really different shoes and that’s what you always look for as an actor.”
Christopher Abbott has always been an underrated actor that deserves much higher stardom, consistently delivering performances full of nuance and depth, Bring Them Down is another showcase from him. After garnering awards success, Barry Keoghan’s fame skyrocketed with the viral Saltburn. But here he reminds us that behind all the grandeur and luxurious set design, he arguably thrives best in a more grounded role. Despite being attached to the project before the critical acclaim of The Banshees of Inisherin, it would be nice to see him continue to return to his indie roots with stripped-down, more delicate characters.
Concluding its Toronto debut with five screenings, Bring Them Down is screening next at the BFI London Film Festival on October 18th. There’s no theatrical or streaming release date as of now.
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