Watch Sanctuary

Sanctuary, a 2016 film directed by Len Collin and written by Christian O'Reilly, is a touching love story about two individuals with intellectual disabilities named Larry and Sophie. The movie is set in Ireland, and the enactment of the story is utterly sensitive to the culture and society of the region. The storybook romance of Larry and Sophie unfolds in a world created entirely for them such that the audience could root for the characters, despite their physical and mental limitations. The film becomes an example of a perfect picture where disabilities are not a hindrance to falling in love. Stephen Marcus essays the role of Larry, while Tara Breathnach plays Sophie.

The plot of Sanctuary revolves around a group of individuals with intellectual disabilities who escape their caregivers to attend a popular Irish folk music festival called the Galway Arts Festival. During the film's opening moments, Larry, who is the most boisterous and jocular of the group, gets taken away by an officer for drunken behavior just as Sophie, the quiet and shy member of the ensemble, arrives to meet the others. Nevertheless, Larry's friends decide to bring Sophie with them in his stead, leading to an unlikely love story that blossoms between Larry and Sophie as they attend the festival.

The stylization of the story is more poetic and indelible than anything else. The acting performances convey both the sense of joy and deep-seated sadness that comes with the romantic adventure the lovers embark on in a world that often condescends their existence. Larry and Sophie’s relationship is portrayed as innocent, yet strong and it makes one ponder over the truth that lies in the saying 'love is beyond comprehension.'

One of the film's best aspects is how it tackles the social challenges of individuals with mental and physical disabilities. The treatment of the characters with intellectual disabilities is handled farily realistically in Sanctuary. The movie is an exploration of what it is like to love, understanding the weight of relationships and how society views people if they don’t confirm to the standards held by everyone around them. Through the characters' everyday and relatable emotions, viewers witness the difficulty of individuals with disabilities, society’s attitude towards them, and the trials they encounter in their everyday lives.

The movie's strongest point is that it portrays differently-abled characters with respect and dignity, not playing them out as one-dimensional stereotypes. The actors give outstanding performances in their respective roles, making the film more authentic and leaving a lasting impact on the audience. In particular, Marcus and Breathnach are excellent in their portrayal of Larry and Sophie. Their chemistry is outstanding, and they manage to convey unspoken emotions through mere glances and touches. The supporting cast also does an excellent job.

Sanctuary was produced on a budget that was a fraction of the cost of most mainstream movies. Nonetheless, its production value is not hampered by its financial limitations; its beautifully shot and scored. The film uses a color code style to symbolize different perspectives to establish the mindset of each character, which helps to keep the audience involved in the narrative.

In conclusion, Sanctuary is a heartwarming movie that captures the essence of love in its real form, beyond the physical plane. It is an essential film that brings the focus back to people with intellectual disabilities, who are often overlooked by society. Director Len Collin has done an excellent job with this quiet, unassuming gem of a film, which manages to shine through on the sheer strength of its emotional core. Overall, Sanctuary is a must-watch for anyone interested in exploring the human condition, compassion, and the power of love.

Sanctuary is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.