If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Linda has to juggle a very demanding job – as a psychologist in private practice – with her daily life as a carer to her ill daughter. When the ceiling of her home literally collapses on top of her, she is forced to deal with yet another crisis and move into a motel with her daughter. As she tries to find a way to repair the hole in her ceiling, she must also handle the disappearance of a patient and a parade of people who all seem incapable of helping her. Even her relationship with her therapist – played by TV host Conan O’Brien – is increasingly hostile.
Mary Bronstein’s astonishing film portrays motherhood as akin to sitting on a ghost train in which you would constantly expect jolts of terror, as invigorating as they are anxiety-inducing. Not the kind of rides whose phony special effects make you laugh. A genuinely frightful one. Bronstein does know the importance of humour though, and even its vital importance when everything conspires to play dark pranks on you. It’s a subtle blend of genres, between drama and fantasy, capable of plunging us into the psyche of its tested protagonist.
For this career-defining performance, Rose Byrne won the Best Leading Performance award at the Berlin International Film festival where the film premiered.
Introduced by Clare Binns (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Cork International Film Festival is delighted to return to its Principal Venue, The Arc Cinema on North Main St, Cork, for its 70th Festival edition, Thursday 6th to Sunday 16th November 2025.
The Arc Cinema Cork is home to The GATE Screen — a space dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of the beloved former Gate Cinema — and an ideal spot for meeting fellow festival goers in between screenings. The GATE Screen features luxurious double sofa seats and tables, creating an intimate and sophisticated viewing experience. It is dedicated to showcasing arthouse films, including independent and local productions, foreign and Irish language titles throughout the year.
