It’s not often a short film comes along that feels both classically grounded and urgently modern, but Three Keenings, from Northern Irish filmmaker Oliver McGoldrick, manages to be exactly that. From its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival to its Oscar®-qualifying win at the Galway Film Fleadh, the film has quietly and deservedly positioned itself as one of the year’s standout shorts.

What makes it so special? At its core, Three Keenings is a story about grief. But more than that, it’s about how we perform grief for others, for ourselves, and sometimes for no one at all. The protagonist, played with soulful depth by Seamus O’Hara, is a struggling actor who takes on a job as a professional mourner. On paper, it sounds like satire. In McGoldrick’s hands, it becomes a layered exploration of emotional survival, communal ritual, and the roles we adopt to make sense of pain.

Every element of the film is carefully considered. The production design is lived-in and textured, echoing the quiet clutter of real life. The sound design is subtle but emotionally loaded. Gianna Badiali’s cinematography is gently breathtaking never flashy, always deeply aligned with the film’s emotional pulse.

With so much to show in a limited filmography, it’s clear that this is a filmmaker poised for an extraordinary career.

But Three Keenings is not just a stepping stone. It is a work of its own complete vision a short that feels expansive, emotionally resonant, and culturally necessary.

A beautifully crafted short that lingers long after the credits roll. One of the most emotionally intelligent films of the year.

Verdict: ★★★★★

Lauren Tate