Maddyclassicfilms A Shine of Rainbows is directed by Vic Sarin, is written by Vic Sarin, Catherine Spear and Dennis Foon, is based on the novel by Lillian Beckwith. The film stars Aidan Quinn, Connie Nielsen and John Bell.Tomas(John Bell)is a young orphan who is adopted by Marie(Connie Nielsen), she is an outgoing and fun woman and slowly begins to draw this shy and timid boy out of his shell. She takes him back to her home on a small island of the coast of Ireland.Marie's husband Alec(Aidan Quinn)is disappointed in Tomas because he's so shy and he can't hide it for the boys sake. Alec appears tough and stern but is a really kind and gentle man, he loves Marie so much and tries to build a relationship with Tomas. For the first time in his life Tomas finds he is happy. Then tragedy strikes the family and everything changes.John Bell gives an extraordinary performance given how young he is, he really makes you feel for Tomas and make you want him to have a happy ending. Connie Nielsen is superb as the loving mother, she puts a smile on your face. Aidan Quinn has a much tougher role, he has to appear mean but also make us see that he isn't, he is a more introverted man and only shows his real self when he's alone with Marie, his performance is quite subtle and is one of his best.The film has beautiful locations and photography and is a moving and funny film.

Chris Roberts A shy, stuttering 8-year-old boy moves from the orphanage he's lived in since the death of his grandmother to an Irish island with his adoptive, free-spirited woman and her cold, silent husband. The story that unfolds is about both the boy and the husband coming out of their shells and learning to express and value what's important in their lives.THE GOOD: The performances of every single actor in the film stand out. Particularly the child actors do an extraordinary job. The emotional fabric of the film is wonderful. You have to be touched if you have any emotions at all! The cinematography is jaw-dropping-gorgeous, owing mostly to the beautiful Irish setting.THE BAD: There's no way around the simplicity of the script; you know everything that's going to happen long, long before it actually happens. In most films, this would be crippling; however, here it doesn't really matter because the story's about the characters, not the plot.THE VERDICT: Heart-warming, beautiful, emotional, and family-friendly. You should most certainly watch this.

TxMike Sometimes the Netflix recommendations work, sometimes they don't. This time they did. The source novel was written in 1984 so I expect the story was probably set in the 1970s or so. A shy young boy of 8 has been in an orphanage and without any warning, one day he is called over and told he is going home with a woman. She had been observing him and knew he would be the ideal choice for adoption. She and her husband had tried to have a child of their own, without success.On the trip to his new home, which required a ride in a boat to the island homestead, he became seasick, it was his first experience on water. In fact just about everything was new and he was shy, and spoke with a slight stammer.Connie Nielsen is great as the wife, and eventual "mother", Maire. Her husband is Aidan Quinn as Alec. They love each other but are opposites, she is caring and warm, he is a typical task-oriented man living off the land and the nearby sea.The boy is John Bell as Tomás, and it would be hard to imagine anyone else playing the part so well. Unsure at first he gets used to the routine, the chores, the school, and the new neighbor kids. He is happy in his new home, he asks permission to call this lady "mom" and she agrees enthusiastically. It seems like a perfect fit.Mom is not well, and when things take a turn for the worse Tomás wonders if he will be allowed to stay, at a place that he now considers his home. Things turn out well, after a series of trials, and soon he has a dad too. They help each other see the world in better ways.A really fine, small movie with superb acting. The location isn't bad either!

Michael Thompson Please don't read this review if you don't want to know any small details from this film.It is impossible not to be moved emotionally by this film, the acting is superb, and the little boys acting will wrench your heart out, particularly when the man in the film burns the dead woman's clothes.I loved the Irish landscape, and the little cottage from where the story takes place.And the ending where the man adopts the little boy and the little boy calls the man his dad, made me literally cry.And watch out for the little seal, it's gorgeous, the seal is the little boys friend, almost human. Watch this film with your family, and keep watching no matter how boring you feel it maybe, my bet is you will cry.I wish they made more films like this, human, endearing, adult.