I viewed this film not long ago, revisiting it after perhaps a decade. It didn't strike me as strongly as I had recalled. I find it agreeable enough, but honestly, without Pierce Brosnan in the cast, I’m uncertain if I would have seen it through to the end. The narrative itself is fairly innocuous, rooted in true events, and centers on an Irish man with a fondness for alcohol—a portrayal that might lean into stereotype, according to this reviewer who doesn't drink much himself—and his wife, whose discontentment grows when he becomes unemployed. She departs, and unlike what typically occurs here in the United States, she leaves their children behind; the grandmother is so disapproving of him that she reports him to a child protection agency, which then removes the children from his care. It's likely that in this country, the grandmother would have sought custody herself. Irish legal proceedings dictate that he requires his wife’s consent to regain custody of the children, as long as she is still alive. The outcome should be fairly apparent. The film does become somewhat sentimental and possesses a peculiar religious element, presenting both an unsympathetic nun while also depicting a daughter internalizing the nun's lessons, which ultimately aids their situation. Still, Julianna Marguiles delivers a strong performance; so disregard the overly emotional plot and its predictability, and simply appreciate the quality of the acting.

Source on TMDB