A priest stationed in Tipperary, Ireland, is eager to return to Rome. Told he cannot do so until he has raised enough money for the building of a new church, he decides to open a cinema in the local town.
Acting
Martin Sheen brings gentle gravitas to conflicted priesthood.
Production
Lush Irish countryside makes every frame postcard-worthy.
Director
Thaddeus O'Sullivan
Martin Sheen
Fr. Daniel Barry
Trystan Gravelle
Tim Lynch
Marcella Plunkett
Molly
Stephen Rea
Brendan
Tom Hickey
Bishop Hegarty
Derbhle Crotty
Julia McSweeney
Amy Huberman
Eileen
Garrett Lombard
Jimmy
Ruth McCabe
Miss Courtney
David Herlihy
Emmet Quinn
Donal O'Kelly
Des
Gary Lydon
Larry
Brendan Conroy
Billy
Barbara Adair
Peggy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on real events from 1950s County Tipperary, where priest Timothy Hayes actually opened the Stella Cinema to fund church construction.
The film captures Ireland's tense 1950s relationship with cinema—the Church once condemned movies as morally corrupting yet grudgingly accepted their fundraising potential.
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