All the charm of the Irish

It stars the well-known Irish comedian Pat Shortt as the oddly named Josie, a gentle but mentally challenged young man who works at a rural garage and seems not to mind days of acute boredom.

They are leavened by the laughter he engenders in the pub and his careful feeding of a favourite horse in a nearby field.

A passing lorry driver leaves him some porno tapes, possibly to help him pass the time, and when a 15-year-old boy (Conor Ryan) makes friends with him, the two settle down to enjoy a crate of beer and the doubtful movies.

Discovered, he is now in bad trouble. It's a matter of total innocence virtually murdered by a repressive society.

The film is small and minimalist in style, using humour as much as drama to achieve its ends. It will also be too slow for some to take.

But Shortt's performance is remarkable, making us laugh at Josie without recourse to doubtfully parodic playing and allowing us sympathy without a trace of sentimentality.

Mark O'Halloran, who also wrote Adam and Paul, contributes a sparse screenplay which nevertheless does exactly what it should in elaborating Josie's restricted world and peppering the story with small incidents that keep the interest going. A fine cast, including Anne-Marie Duff, offer sympathetic support.

Garage may not be for everyone, but, in its way, it's one of the most cherishable films of the year.

Garage
Cert: 18