What is a holiday if not an excuse to watch a festive film with your family and friends. We watch movies filled with snowmen and Santa Claus in the winter. February is all about cinematic romance. So, when St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, why can’t we celebrate the day with some good films and maybe a few leprechauns? Here are some film picks to transport you straight to Ireland this St. Patrick’s Day.
“Leprechaun” (1993)
When you think of holidays associated with horror films you probably think of the “Halloween” franchise, but tons of other holidays have their own horror movies. Christmas has the 2015 film “Krampus.” Valentine's day has the 1981 movie “My Bloody Valentine.” So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone when in 1993 a St. Patrick's Day film called “Leprechaun,” starring Jennifer Anniston, was released in theaters as the first installment in what would become a much longer franchise. While there are eight films that make up the “Leprechaun” series, Anniston only starred in the first one. It’s centered around her character Tory, who must defeat a murderous leprechaun (Warwick Davis) who wreaks havoc on her family’s home in search of his missing gold.
Since its initial release the series has gained a bit of a cult following due to some of its absurd premises. The comedy horror franchise has films like “Leprechaun 4: In Space,” which features Warwick's villainous leprechaun in a sci-fi setting, and “Leprechaun In the Hood,” a film where rapper and actor Ice-T stars alongside Warwick as record producer, Mack Daddy. While the films aren’t great examples of good horror and the premise of the series is ridiculous, if you’re looking for something unserious and fun to watch on St. Patrick's Day “Leprechaun” is a great choice. The entire series is available to stream on Peacock, or you can rent any of the films on Amazon.
“The Secret of Kells” (2009)
A magical fairytale and beautiful animation come together in the 2009 film “The Secret of Kells,” created by Tomm Moore. The film is based on the origins of “The Book of Kells,” a religious manuscript containing the four Gospels of the New Testament known for its intricate Celtic artwork.
The movie centers around a young boy named Brendan (Evan McGuire) who, despite a war with the Vikings quickly approaching his village, secretly works in a local ministry learning the art of calligraphy. This is where Aidan (Mick Lally) comes in, he is a revered illuminator which essentially means that he is known for creating the intricate illustrations in the religious works and books shown in the movie.
When he comes to the monastery and recruits Brendan to help finish the legendary Book of Kells the young boy must complete a series of dangerous and magical tasks to do so. At its core “The Secret of Kells” is about creativity and preserving one’s culture. While he has no desire to fight in the war, Brendan comes out of this movie as one of the strongest characters due to his creative passion and dedication Irish culture. If you’re looking for a heartwarming tale that the whole family can enjoy this St. Patrick’s Day, then “The Secret of Kells,” currently available to rent for $1.99 on Amazon, is the way to go.
“Leap Year” (2010)
If you are looking for romance this St. Patrick’s Day, look no further than the 2010 film “Leap Year.” Amy Adams stars in this rom-com as the protagonist Anna Brady, a self-proclaimed control freak who travels to Ireland to surprise her boyfriend and propose to him on Leap Day. Anna’s plan is based on the Irish tradition, also known as Bachelor’s Day, that if a woman proposes to a man on Leap Day he is obligated to accept. Her plans get derailed however when bad weather results in her ending up in Dingle, Ireland, instead of Dublin. It’s here where she meets Declan (Matthew Goode) who, for a price, agrees to take her to Dublin himself. On their journey Anna and Declan encounter your classic rom-com tropes, such as the “there’s only one bed” cliche, and the two inevitably fall in love.
It may be a very stereotypical rom-com but with an excellent performance from Adams and Goode, “Leap Year” has the viewer falling in love with the characters and beautiful landscape of Ireland. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, this movie may have you thinking St. Patrick’s Day is the new Valentine’s Day.
“Older than Ireland” (2015)
In 1921, the United Kingdom and Irish Republic signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty, ending British rule in most of Ireland. In 2015, nearly 94 years after that initial treaty was signed, Irish filmmaker Alex Fegan released the documentary “Older than Ireland” that details the life experiences of Irish citizens older than Irish independence. In the documentary, Fegan interviewed 30 Irish men and women all ages 100 or older as they discuss the key events of their life from the birth of Irish independence to what it’s like in modern day Ireland. For people interested in history, this documentary is for you.
With a cast of characters from all four corners of Ireland, Fegan puts together a really interesting portrayal of the history of Ireland through the eyes of those who have truly seen it all. “Older than Ireland” is available to watch for free on Amazon, and if you want to add an educational aspect to this St. Patrick’s Day then the documentary is definitely worth watching.
