One of the best Irish films of the past five years is airing on TV tonight (Thursday, May 22) for free across the UK. It’s been a brilliant few years for Irish film , with a number of the country’s movies achieving global success through their high quality. 2023 saw The Quiet Girl nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, becoming the first Irish film in history to do so in what was a turning point for the nation’s film industry. While they're currently in the headlines for their recent Coachella show, last year saw rap trio Kneecap’s self-titled film gross over $4.7 million at the worldwide box office. When you add that the likes of Paul Mescal , Saoirse Ronan and Jessie Buckley are continuously to star in massive projects, Irish film appears to just be getting started. One of the biggest stars to emerge from Ireland in recent years is Barry Keoghan, best known on these shores for his work in Saltburn, The Banshees of Inisherin and Marvel’s Eternals. Out of all of Barry’s work, global audiences may have missed his stunning 2019 crime film that's destined to become a cult classic. Titled Calm with Horses, the film follows an ex-boxer who works as an enforcer for a criminal family in rural Ireland while providing for his autistic son. Boasting a breakout performance from UK actor Cosmo Jarvis, who went on to star in Shōgun, the film doesn’t pull any punches in its depiction of family life. Critics adored the project, giving it a staggering score of 94% based on the 69 reviews compiled on review website Rotten Tomatoes. Its critical consensus reads: “Calm with Horses presents a grimly effective portrait of one man's struggle with divided loyalties, elevated by standout performances from a stellar cast.” Previously speaking to The Independent about the film, Keoghan said: “Like every actor, I want to express my pain. So I think these shady characters help. “I want to hide behind a mask, and these have more of a mask than your 2D characters, your happy-go-lucky characters. I want to play someone with a bit more of an edge; someone who challenges people, and that doesn’t have it all easy.” Calm with Horses airs on Thursday, May 22, on Film 4 and channel4.com at 1.55am