Watch Stella Days

In the movie Stella Days from 2011, Martin Sheen plays Father Daniel Barry, a Catholic priest who is assigned to a small town in rural Ireland in the 1950s. Stephen Rea plays Brendan McSweeney, the town's wealthy and conservative benefactor who opposes Father Barry's plans to bring modernity to the town. Trystan Gravelle plays Tom, a young man who works with Father Barry at the local cinema and dreams of making it big in Hollywood.

The main plot of Stella Days revolves around Father Barry's attempts to establish a community cinema in the town, which he hopes will bring the community together and provide an alternative to the more traditional forms of entertainment that are popular in the area. However, he faces opposition from McSweeney and other members of the community who view the cinema as a threat to their way of life.

Throughout the movie, Father Barry must navigate the complex social and political dynamics of the town while also grappling with his own doubts about his faith and the role of the church in modern society. He also develops a close friendship with Tom, who provides a counterpoint to the more traditional elements of the town and helps him to see the potential for progress and change.

One of the main strengths of Stella Days is its portrayal of rural Ireland in the 1950s, which is vividly brought to life through the use of beautiful landscapes and period costumes. The movie also deals with themes of censorship, artistic freedom, and religious conservatism, which are still relevant today.

Martin Sheen gives a strong performance as Father Barry, conveying both the character's idealism and his struggles with doubt and uncertainty. Stephen Rea is also excellent as McSweeney, playing the character with just the right mix of charm and villainy.

Trystan Gravelle is perhaps a less well-known actor, but he gives a standout performance as Tom, bringing a sense of youthful energy and optimism to the role that is a refreshing contrast to the other, more rigid characters in the film.

Overall, Stella Days is an engaging and thought-provoking movie that offers a fresh perspective on a specific time and place in Irish history. With its strong performances and nuanced exploration of themes, it is definitely worth checking out for fans of historical dramas and character-driven stories.

Stella Days is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 56.