Sunlight (2023)

Barry Ward ("Leon") and Liam Carney ("Iver") make for quite a formidable pairing in this quirky and thought-provoking drama. The former is a recovering drug addict whose has been sponsored by the latter for three years. Sadly, though, the older man has become terminally ill and so has sought the assistance of a doctor "Maria" (Maureen Beattie) to bring things to a peaceable end. "Leon" is very fond of his curmudgeonly old charge and so goes round on his day off only to find the pair implementing his exit plan. Determined not to lose his mentor, the three now embark of a brief tour of the old haunts in the hope that this might re-energise his spirits and maybe, just maybe, change the old man's mind. Despite the serious undercurrents of the film, there is a certain degree of joyousness to this story. Ward is on great form as his clear affection for "Iver" manifests itself as much as a dependency for him as it is love. Love, it is, too. Not a cheesy, sentimental one - but one borne out of respect and appreciation and one that these two men characterise really quite well. Beattie is also rather effective at providing the odd bit of relief from the fairly constant pace of a mini-adventure that is peppered with black humour and some ancient Norse prose (the older man is fascinated by Viking mythology). Ultimately, I think this is a film about dignity and choice - and some will like it and some will not. In any case, it's poignant and entertaining. I'm not sure anyone will be buying any of the young guy's music any time soon, though...