Older Than Ireland (G) ****

Filmmaker Alex Fegan - who previously captured the spirit and personality of his subjects in The Irish Pub - trains his camera on a few dozen people, all over the age of 100, from all over the country. And they’re well up for a bit of storytelling.

In doing so, he's made something special. Wisely, the filmmakers don't strive for forced secrets of longevity or moments of wisdom. In avoiding doing so, they instead come naturally - and are all the more touching and poignant when they do arrive.

The film works on two levels, the political and the personal. There are fascinating account of the black and tans, the Rising and the Civil War.

But it's not long before the subjects move on to more important, personal milestones in their own lives, and Fegan is savvy enough to see this and let the stories evolve naturally.

Those who contribute to the documentary include the oldest-ever Irish person on record, 113-year-old Kathleen Snavely, and Ireland’s oldest man, Luke Dolan (108).

Reflecting on historic times within their lives, the movie plays well as document of a dramatic period in our history. But it really comes into its own when it becomes personal, as the subjects recall their first kiss, their wedding days, and those they must live on without.

“Our aim with Older Than Ireland was to make a cinematic feature documentary that captured the universal topic of what it means to be alive from the point of view of those who have lived the longest, and yet are the closest to death,” observes Fegan in his notes for the film. He’s achieved that and then some.

Miss You Already (15A) ***

At times, this drama about a tested friendship becomes a very tough watch, but the film’s cast and director Catherine Hardwicke deserve acknowledgement for going to some dark places to give an authentic account of serious illness.

Toni Collette gives a characteristically strong and committed performance as Milly, a businesswoman who likes the good life and has a loyal husband and dad in Kit (Dominic Cooper).

She’s a different character best friend Jess (Drew Barrymore) who lives in a boathouse with her boyfriend (Paddy Considine) and is desperate to have a baby.

But when Milly is diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s not only a medical challenge but an emotional one, as her marriage is tested and she relies on Jess more than ever.

I spoke with Collette last week, who lost weight and had her head shaved for the role. “It was just one take and that was it. I think it was more traumatic for everyone else because I’d shaved my head four times prior to that. I think it’s such an important film, I would have done anything. Shaving my hair off was the least that I could do.

“I loved that she was real and she didn’t suddenly turn into a saint. It’s a very unique, realistic and relatable life that these women are sharing."

It’s at times a very a moving film with strong performances from Collette, Barrymore and Cooper. But it suffers from uncertain and uneven storytelling.