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Sanctuary Photos

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Movie Info

Two people with developmental disabilities long to be together in a world that keeps them apart.

Genre:

comedy, romance, drama
Original Language:

English (United Kingdom)
Director:

Len Collin
Producer:

Edwina Forkin
Writer:

Christian O'Reilly
Release Date (Streaming):

Sep 8, 2017
Runtime:

1h 27m

Cast & Crew

Stephen Marcus
Joseph

Amy Joyce Hastings
Iseult

Tara Breathnach
Teresa

Christopher Dunne
Danny the Popcorn

Robert Doherty
Tom

Orla McGovern
Patricia Kelly

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Sanctuary

All Critics (16) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (16)

Thoughtful, nuanced and fun, Sanctuary subverts received ideas about disability in its very approach to filmmaking.

December 28, 2017 | Full Review…

Alex Dudok de Wit
Sight and Sound
Christian O'Reilly's screenplay combines elements from the typical feelgood drama with harsher insights into the lives of the protagonists.

December 27, 2017 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
There's a wonderful warmth and directness to this movie.

December 27, 2017 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
A devastating conclusion leaves us with an aching sadness and some quite profound questions about the basic human right to love the person we choose.

December 26, 2017 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
The charm, honesty and gently woebegone jokes are what win you.

December 20, 2017 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
O'Reilly's script has been written around the actors so the ensemble is particularly strong.

August 15, 2017 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Tara Brady
Irish Times
The movie, rather admirably isn't black and white about the issues it raises.

March 23, 2018 | Full Review…

Stephen Porzio
Film Ireland Magazine
What Sanctuary shows is that a film can come from humble beginnings and a small budget but can have a big outcome on society.

February 24, 2018 | Full Review…

Linsey Satterthwaite
Film Inquiry
(The) casting, and the skilled performances it brings us, are sufficient reasons to find the movie heartening, but the script is also of value. Although fairly rough-hewn, it has subtle touches and it campaigns on a noteworthy topic.

January 3, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Edward Porter
Sunday Times (UK)
This deft delight resolutely refuses to patronise the performers or the audience. It has a sincerity, wit and compassion that recalls Justin Edgar's 2005 short film Special People.

December 27, 2017 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

David Parkinson
Radio Times
[An] insightful exploration of the difficult realities of life for those who don't conform to widely accepted norms, and its celebration of the power of human connection - whomever we may be.

December 22, 2017 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Nikki Baughan
The List
Sweet, smart and funny.

December 22, 2017 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Allan Hunter
Daily Express (UK)