REVIEW: ‘North Circular’ is a remarkable documentary about a changing Dublin
Photo: North Circular features, from left, folk singer and musician John Francis Flynn with fellow singers Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Killian O’Donnell and Lisa O’Neill in the Cobblestone Pub in Dublin. Photo courtesy of Lightdox / Provided by Firehouse with permission.
North Circular, the new documentary from Luke McManus, tells the varied stories of people living on Dublin’s North Circular Road. These testimonials are heartfelt and passionate, tales of a neighborhood that is changing, gentrifying and yet still pulsating with life. The stories that are shared throughout the film are interwoven with stirring musical numbers from the talented residents of the North Circular. Taken together, these tales and tunes offer a moving portrait of Dublin in transition.
McManus’ gentle lens allows anyone and everyone to come into focus. In one segment, he follows the difficulties of a local pub called the Cobblestone that is facing an uncertain future because a developer wants to build a multi-story hotel, perhaps the clearest sign that the neighborhood is changing. Another segment follows a musician who has fallen on hard times; he opens up about his past homelessness and familial trauma. Football — or soccer, to American viewers — is a glue that holds the film and the North Circular together, with the locals cheering on their team from the sidewalks and stands.
The black-and-white imagery of North Circular is beautifully rendered, offering images that are haunting and real, perfectly matching the ghostly feeling that these residents are grasping for something that is increasingly not there. The working-class community at the center of the narrative clearly has had its ups and downs. There are stories of triumph, like the musical dominance of local singer Gemma Dunleavy and a celebratory parade for an Olympic athlete from the flats, but there are also stories of desperation and difficulty, including more than a couple tales of incarceration and drug addiction. The prison complex for this section of Dublin is actually located within the North Circular neighborhood; that in and of itself is a metaphor for the hard living of these residents.
The documentary is relatively short, running fewer than 90 minutes, which means there are thankfully no talking heads to contextualize the images that the audience views. It’s not entirely clear why this section of Dublin is changing, although there are some stories about the nearby parkland and the attractiveness of the land. There are a couple stories and images of the changing demographics of the local area, but this is not a film of stats or historical lessons. McManus, with a fine eye for personal narrative, simply hits record and follows individuals that seemingly interest him and are indicative of larger trends impacting Dublin and Ireland.
The lasting impression of watching North Circular is likely the music. There are a handful of songs, all beautifully sung, that speak to the resiliency of these residents, the history of these streets and the magic of the neighborhood. The tunes are presented as unadorned art that naturally emanates from a crowd of people. Typically a solitary singer sits amongst friends, perhaps with a pint or two hanging in the balance. Utilizing lyrical words in English and Irish, a heartfelt recitation is offered, earning nodding heads and affirmations from the listeners who can identify with the spirit of the music and how it speaks to their collective past and uncertain future.
North Circular is one of the best documentaries of the year.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
North Circular (2023). Directed by Luke McManus. Running time: 85 minutes. Currently running at DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema in New York City. Rating: 
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