# My Sailor, My Love

My Sailor, My Love is a 2022 Irish drama film directed by Klaus Härö. An international co-production between Finland and Ireland, the project marked Härö's English language debut. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was subsequently distributed by Music Box Films. The cast includes James Cosmo, Bríd Brennan, Catherine Walker, Nora-Jane Noone, Aidan O’Hare, Gina Costigan, and Molly McCann.
The film was nominated for the 2023 Dublin Film Critics Circle Award for Best Irish Film. For his performance James Cosmo was nominated for the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actor. Bríd Brennan and Catherine Walker received nominations from the Irish Film & Television Academy for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

## Plot

Howard (James Cosmo), a retired sailor and widower, lives in a house by the sea. His adult daughter Grace (Catherine Walker) hires a caretaker for her father, a lady in her mature years, Annie (Bríd Brennan). Recluse and stubborn, Howard rejects Annie's company, but eventually opens his heart and gives his final love a chance. Grace has her own crisis to unravel and finds her father's romance difficult. Her father's new love reminds her of the affection she missed, as a child and now again as an adult. Annie must face the complex father-daughter relationship, while Howard and Grace must realize their own imperfections.

## Cast

* James Cosmo as Howard
* Bríd Brennan as Annie
* Catherine Walker as Grace
* Nora-Jane Noone as Kelly
* Aidan O’Hare as Martin
* Gina Costigan as Joyce
* Molly McCann as Alison

## Reception

The film received generally positive reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 90% based on 30 reviews.
Critics have praised the film's nuanced portrayal of familial relationships. Marya E. Gates of RogerEbert.com noted that the film excels when delving into Grace's pain, highlighting how it has affected her interactions with others. Similarly, Similarly, Loud and Clear Reviews commended the film for subtly shifting audience perceptions of its characters, particularly in exploring the complexities of Grace and Howard's relationship.
Amy Nicholson in a reiview for The New York Times was more critical, noting "The painful dynamic is credible; the dialogue not so much. Still, the actors are in full command of our empathy, especially Brennan’s gray-haired caretaker who, when she cracks open her heart, seems to glow from within."

## Awards

| Year | Association | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2022 | Chicago International Film Festival | Audience Choice Award | Klaus Härö | Won |
| 2023 | Wisconsin Film Festival | Audience Award | Klaus Härö | Won |
| 2023 | Cleveland International Film Festival | Best Feature Film | Klaus Härö | Won |
| 2023 | Nantucket Film Festival | Best Narrative Feature | Klaus Härö | Won |
| 2023 | World Soundtrack Awards | Public Choice Award | Michelino Bisceglia | Nominated |
| 2023 | Jussi Awards | Best Film | Klaus Härö | Nominated |
| 2023 | Jussi Awards | Best Direction | Klaus Härö | Nominated |
| 2023 | Jussi Awards | Best Production Design | John Hand | Nominated |
| 2023 | Dublin Film Critics Circle Award | Best Irish Film | Klaus Härö | Nominated |
| 2023 | British Academy Scotland Awards | Best Actor | James Cosmo | Nominated |
| 2024 | Irish Film & Television Academy | Best Actress | Bríd Brennan | Nominated |
| 2024 | Irish Film & Television Academy | Best Supporting Actress | Catherine Walker | Nominated |