If you haven't noticed recently, Ireland is having a bit of a moment. Whether it be the rise of Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan, Cillian Murphy's awards sweep for his role as J. Robert Oppenheimer or some of the fantastic art that has been coming out of the country these last few years, there is no denying that Irish talent is taking over the world. Spilt Milk, the directorial debut of Ireland's own Brian Durnin, is further proof that there is much more to come.

Taking place in 1980s Dublin, the film follows 11-year-old Bobby (Cillian Sullivan), who dreams of being a detective, just like his TV idol, Kojak. With the help of his trusty sidekick Nell (Naoise Kelly), the two solve the biggest cases in their neighbourhood: missing cats, lost biscuits, you name it! However, when Bobby's older brother Oisin (Lewis Brophy) disappears, Bobby must take on the biggest case of his career.

With two child actors leading the film, things start off with the type of whimsy only capable of being captured by the child's imagination; notebooks full of previous case records, bedrooms full of evidence, a classroom being used as the headquarters for Bobby's schemes. As the film moves further into its runtime, and as the mystery begins to unravel, however, things become more grounded and handled more maturely.

By structuring the story in such a way, screenwriter Cara Loftus crafts a mystery that is a joy to watch, all the while allowing for both Sullivan and Kelly to gradually ease into the more emotionally demanding portions of the script. The charm of the two leads is clear early on, and aside from some awkward blocking and shaky line deliveries, the two actors provide fun and, later, convincing performances.

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More impressive than the acting chops of the young leads, though, is the direction of Durnin. Specifically, how he portrays the events of the film through the eyes of the children. Using their childish naivety to prolong the mystery and to throw the audience off the scent at times, Durnin cleverly blends the harsh realities of the real world with the childish wonder of Bobby and co. In doing so, we, as an audience, begin to make our own assumptions about what is truly going on. By placing us in the same mindset of the children, that being a complete misunderstanding of what is actually going on around them, the emotional beats of Spilt Milk hit much harder, and the emotional impact of the film is considerably stronger as a result.

Frankly, though, Danielle Galligan is the true champion of this film. Playing the role of Bobby's mother, Maura O'Brien, Danielle's performance is subdued for most of the runtime – always standing out, always noteworthy – but it is not until the final act that the power of her performance truly shines through. Just as Bobby's mystery unravels and just as Bobby begins to understand what his parents are going through, the battle Maura has been facing all this time, Galligan plays it to perfection, with that blend of heartbreak and the strength to go on that every mother can relate to.

Going into Spilt Milk, one might expect a brisk ninety minutes of Bobby and Nell solving mysteries, like a blend of The Goonies and Stand By Me meets Scooby-Doo. The reality, just like the reality that Bobby must eventually face in the film, is much more solemn, but Spilt Milk is no lesser film because of it. Durnin and Loftus may divert expectations, but in doing so, they deliver an emotionally resonating, memorable film in which Danielle Galligan is the heartbeat.