In the aftermath of their father’s death, four estranged siblings are called back to their childhood home to decide the future of the family estate.
The Canavan siblings come together, and are forced to confront a shared, abusive past. What follows is a chaotic blend of tension, laughter, and connection.
Set against the backdrop of rural Sligo with an all-Irish cast, the film explores themes of silence, memory, and the complicated bonds that tie family together.
Starring Carolyn Bracken, Neill Fleming, Jed Murray, and Eric O’Brien as the Canavan siblings, with Lalor Roddy portraying their late father, Horseshoe is co-directed by Edwin Mullane and Adam O’Keeffe via their vehicle, Wavewalker Films. Filmed entirely on location in North County Sligo, with cinematography by Jass Foley and editing by Tony Craunston, Horseshoe captures the charm and the isolation of the Irish countryside.
Long-time friends, Adam O’Keeffe and Edwin Mullane collaborated on a series of short films and commercials, before coming together to pursue their first feature film, Horseshoe.
O’Keeffe reflects on their creative dynamic: “ I’m coming at it like a writer [with] a macro perspective, but Ed trained as an actor. So Ed has a very intuitive sense for what the actor either needs, or doesn’t need, in any given moment.”
Together, their collaboration shapes a film that navigates complex family dynamics, tough love, and loss.
The most striking and memorable moments in the film are as emotionally raw as they are hilarious.
Over the course of the 24 hours they spend together, long-held frustrations and tensions between siblings come to a head. Whether they’re bickering over the family estate or hurling sandwiches at each other, they’re ultimately forced to reconcile with the fact that, like it or not, they are family.
“All families are mad,” says writer-director O’Keefe. “The main crux of the film is passing them through that lens, and asking them each the question: you have all lots and lots of reasons not to see each other again, but you are family members, so you all have to make the choice. Do you want to continue as a family? Or do you not?”
Food and everyday rituals became a language O’Keefe used to explore the tensions between the Canavan siblings. Who cooks, who eats, who sits where. These small details reveal old wounds, power struggles, and moments of connection.
“It’s not that they’re bad, but each person has quirks and tastes that drive you insane when you’re in close proximity.”
Mullane adds: “Everybody’s family has this huge catalogue of micro and major adversities. Our story is about whether you choose to continue as a family, or not.”
Behind the Lens
As a small independent production, Horseshoe didn’t allow much time for traditional rehearsals. O’Keeffe says that what the cast and crew lacked in time, they made up for in intention. “We created a family while we were making this film,” he says.
Mullane highlights the collaborative efforts of the production team in supporting performances. “Jass Foley, our director of photography, has an incredible skill for working with actors. The atmosphere, the performances… the crew being really in sync with that was essential, and we were lucky to work with Tony Cranston, [who] has an incredible experience and skill with the pacing and juxtaposition of scenes.”
Mullane says Cranston’s guidance helped scenes land deeper, his natural rhythms and deep understanding of the story amplifying the siblings’ feelings of being lost.
The Heart of Horseshoe
During our conversation, the team spoke with admiration for composer and Galway native Anna Mullarkey, whose score became a crucial thread in the emotional fabric of Horseshoe.
“There’s, like, sections of the film that we weren’t sure that were working up until she came along and she laid down,” Mullane shares. “There’s one section in particular where they’re bouncing back between the siblings after they’ve all sort of split apart.”
The transformation was instant. “She just laid that down there and all of a sudden we’re like, oh my God, that’s my favorite part of the film. It just keeps bringing out the heart.”
Horseshoe premieres at the 37th Galway Fleadh on Saturday, July 12, in the Townhall Theatre, at 7pm.
