A SHINE OF RAINBOWS (Ireland/Canada 2009) ***
Directed by Vic Sarin

A bullied boy, 8-year old Tomas (John Bell) is adopted from the local orphanage by a charming young woman Maire O’Donnell (Connie Neilson) unable to bear a child of her own.  The woman is all smiles but the boy has to win the heart of her hardened husband (a scruffy Aidan Quinn) as well as the village children to stay in the home. 

As the film progresses, Tomas adopts an abandoned baby seal while mother Maire falls ill and eventually dies.  If the story does not already spell tearjerker, director Vic Sarin shows no mercy at pulling at the heartstrings.  Bring lots (and lots) of Kleenex. 

A SHINE OF RAINBOWS, based on the book by Lillian Beckwith and set in the picturesque Irish wind-swept Corrie Island allows Sarin, who is also cinematographer to also show his prowess in this field.  Very Irish, with lots of folk tunes Irish dancing and Celtic charm if you can forgive the sappiness!