Natural Grace is director Art Ó Briain’s award winning documentary tribute to Irish musician Martin Hayes. Ó Briain spent over two years with Hayes following him around to make this film, travelling from rural Ireland to Chicago and as far away as Japan. It’s a fascinating film, examining the universality of music and its cultural ties. Hayes plays traditional Irish music, playing every type of venue from a local céilí to joining the RTÉ Concert Orchestra for a special concert. At a well attended concert in Japan, one Japanese man exclaims that he has been moved to tears by Hayes’ playing. The documentary is very entertaining, focusing almost entirely on Hayes music, his influences and how it has changed over the years. There is a glimpse of Hayes’s early years through reminiscence of his childhood experiences which are similarly hypnotic. Memories of late night dances, courting and lying awake at night to listen to the adults.

Hayes is certainly an interesting man, with a wide range of interests and influences. This doc, winner of the Best Irish Feature Documentary at the 2012 Galway Film Fleadh, is a great tribute to him and his music. It plays at 6:30 on the 27th at Royal Cinema, 608 College St, Toronto to close the EU Film Fest.

Donal O’Connor

@loughfee, @MHayesmusic, @EUFFToronto, @FilmFleadh