Review: Irish Oscar nominee ‘The Quiet Girl’ speaks clearly

Though gently restrained and delicately crafted, “The Quiet Girl” has managed to make plenty of noise. Set in 1981 rural Ireland, “The Quiet Girl” — a clever tweak to the title of John Ford’s Ireland-set “The Quiet Man” — comes from Claire Keegan’s short story “Foster,” and it preserves much of the rhythm and concision of a good short story. “The Quiet Girl” unfolds as a nurturing idyll that couldn’t be sweeter even though we know it can’t last forever. There’s much to soak up in “The Quiet Girl,” including Kate McCullough’s radiant cinematography and Emma Lowney’s graceful production design. As a portrait of a child’s resilience — and the damning view of adulthood that can be spied from young eyes — it could sit comfortably alongside Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s similarly affecting “The Kid With a Bike.” “The Quiet Girl,” a Super release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for some strong language and smoking.