TIFF 2025 Review: Glenrothan – “endearing and bittersweet.”

Two estranged brothers are brought together when the older of the two is suffering from an illness which calls into question as to whether the distillery will stay within the family or be sold.

A fire at his blues club in Chicago and a letter from his brother Sandy cause Donal to return to Ireland, deal with the bitter memories of his father and reconcile with his sibling who has cancer.  None of this comes about easily, as the hometown is not the most welcoming of places for those viewed as prodigal sons.

Some will find the story to be sentimental melodrama, but it is more in the heartwarming category as there is an element of hope and beginning anew that permeates throughout the movie.  Alan Cumming is able to go through the emotions of melancholy, frustration and joy believably as Donal and Brian Cox imbues Sandy with a touch of sadness, duty, and mischievousness that is endearing and bittersweet.  This is an interesting choice for Cox to be his feature film directorial debut, as there is not the dark undertone that often exists in the projects that he typically gets cast.

The ending is appropriate and logical, thereby avoiding a cliché Hollywood resolution.  There is a richness to the colour palette and the cinematography gets the most out of the beautiful settings that feel inhabited by the characters.  The flashbacks are nostalgic, with the father looming large as an oppressive figure.  No new ground is treaded; however, there is an undeniable polish stemming from Cox confidently guiding the production; it will be intriguing to see what he decides to do for his sophomore outing.

The 50th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 4-14, 2025, and for more information visit tiff.net.    

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.