The Outcasts 1982 film

"The Outcasts," directed by Robert Wynne-Simmons and starring Mary Ryan and Mick Lally, is an Irish film completed in 1982 and broadcast in 1984 as part of Channel 4's Film on Four series. It was the first major Irish feature film in 50 years, marking the revival of the Irish film industry. The film, produced by Tolmayax, faced challenges during filming, including a halt due to deep snow in December 1981, before resuming in February 1982 with funding from the Arts Council of Ireland and the Irish Film Board.

The movie is described as a dreamlike feature that does not fit neatly into any genre but draws influence from Irish mythology, history, "The Book of Thel" by William Blake, and W.B. Yeats' poetry. The plot follows Maura, a seemingly backward girl, who is awakened by Scarf Michael, an outcast fairy, fiddler, and shaman who becomes her lover and teacher.

"The Outcasts" received critical acclaim and won several awards, including Best Film and Critics Prize at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, Best First Feature and Best Actress at the San Remo Film Festival, Special Prize for Originality and Jury Prize at the Oporto Film Festival, and Prix du Publique at the Geneva Film Festival. It also received the Arts Council of Ireland Award. Despite its significance, the film was not released on DVD but was available on VHS in 1983. A restored version was released on Blu-ray by the BFI in 2024.