Cúilín Dualach

A beautiful baby boy is born to an overjoyed mother. There is just one problem – his head is on backwards.

Cúilín Dualach is the comedic yet inspirational tale about a young boy who lives a happy life but is not always accepted by those around him. He is the apple of his mother’s eye, but his father is embarrassed by him and shows him little affection. In a bid to win over his father he competes in the National Swimming Championships and wins gold. However, he is disqualified due to his condition and his medal is revoked. Cúilín isn’t too bothered as he has achieved his real purpose and goal in life: the love and pride of his father. This heart-warming animation teaches us to accept and celebrate our differences rather than judging them.

Directed by Nora Twomey, whose work on later features, The Secret of Kells and The Breadwinner, earned Academy Award nominations.

This film is part of F-Rated: Short Films by Irish Women. To view more from the collection click here. This film is also part of Children on Film. To see more from that collection, click here.

IFI recommendation: 8+