A Good Woman is Hard to Find ★★★
DON’T let the awful title put you off.
If you are into gritty, slow-burn thrillers, search out A Good Woman is Hard to Find.
This 2019 Irish film tells the story of a woman who suffers a personal tragedy and is forced by circumstances beyond her control into a vicious crime world.
Ultimately it leads to decisions and actions with life-changing consequences for her and her son.
Sarah Bolger is very good as Sarah, who is dealing with life as a single mother to a traumatised young son who was standing next to his father when he was stabbed to death.
It’s been a year since the murder and Sarah’s constant questioning of the police has got her nowhere, mainly due to her dead husband’s own past criminal record and associations.
Her life is further upturned when Tito, a petty thief, steals drugs from a local crime boss and seeks refuge in her home. Yes, I know, perhaps a little too coincidental, but nevertheless the narrative, as structured by writer Ronan Bailey, still works.
I’m not familiar with director Abner Pastoll’s previous films (this is his third), but have no doubt he will be offered more.
At its best moments, this film reminds me, in terms of both visuals and sound, of the Pusher film series that established Nicolas Winding Refn as a talent to watch. He eventually went on to make Drive (his best film by far), Only God Forgives and Neon Demon.
Apart from Bolger, the cast includes Edward Hogg in a frightening turn as the crime boss Lee Miller. Not somebody you would want to cross.