The Dig (2018 film)
# The Dig (2018 film)

The Dig is a 2018 Irish drama film directed by Andy Tohill and Ryan Tohill, from a screenplay by Stuart Drennan. The film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and was produced by Brian J Falconer for northern Irish firm Out of Orbit.

## Plot

A father (Lorcan Cranitch as Sean McKenna) becomes obsessed with finding the body of his murdered daughter Naimh. The murderer Ronan Callahan (Moe Dunford) is released from jail after serving a 15-year sentence. At first he wants Sean off his land, but decides to help dig for Naimh's missing body in the bog. He pours the old alcohol in his house down the drain but eventually drinks shots in a pub, hoping to remember the act of murder and where he buried the girl. He develops a relationship with the victim's sister Roberta (Emily Taaffe), and it is revealed that his father had abused his mother, who died when he was 14. Ronan and Sean vow to not stop digging. Ronan eventually remembers a detail that proves he is not the murderer.

## Reception

### Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 75% based on 12 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10.

### Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Recipients | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2018 | British Independent Film Awards | The Discovery Award | Brian J. Falconer Ryan Tohill Andy Tohill Stuart Drennan | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cork International Film Festival | Gradam Spiorad na Féile (Spirit of the Festival Award) | Andy Tohill Ryan Tohill | Nominated |
| 2018 | Galway Film Fleadh | Feature Film Award | | Won |
| 2019 | Dublin Film Critics Circle Award | Best Irish Film | | 7th place |
| 2019 | Newport Beach Film Festival | Breakthrough Award - Breakthrough Artist | Moe Dunford | Won |
| 2019 | Newport Beach Film Festival | Jury Award - Best Actor | Moe Dunford | Won |
| 2020 | Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Film 2019 | Brian J. Falconer | Nominated |
| 2020 | Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Actor in a Lead Role - Film | Moe Dunford | Nominated |
| 2020 | Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Film | Lorcan Cranitch | Nominated |
| 2020 | Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Film | Emily Taafee | Nominated |

## Cast

* Moe Dunford as Ronan Callahan
* Francis Magee as Murphy
* Emily Taaffe as Roberta McKenna
* Lorcan Cranitch as Sean McKenna
* Katherine Devlin as Siobhan
