[1][2] Based on the 2010 short story "Foster" by Claire Keegan, it stars Catherine Clinch, Carrie Crowley and Andrew Bennett.

Set in 1981, the film follows a withdrawn nine-year-old girl raised by neglectful parents among many other siblings, who experiences a loving home for the first time when she spends the summer on a farm in Rinn Gaeltacht, County Waterford, alone with a married couple who are distant relatives.

The Quiet Girl premiered on 11 February 2022 at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival, where it won two awards, before being theatrically released in Ireland on 12 May 2022.

With her mother pregnant again, they decide to send their quiet daughter away to live with middle-aged distant cousin Eibhlín Cinnsealach (Kinsella) and her husband Seán.

When Cáit arrives, Eibhlín immediately welcomes her into the Cinnsealach home, showing her love and teaching her how to do chores around the house and farm.

Eibhlín places Cáit in a spare bedroom, where she later fears an adult entering the room and eventually wets the bed.

Seeing Cáit getting restless at the event while Eibhlín and Seán comfort their friends, a gossipy neighbour offers to look after her for a couple of hours.

While watching the car disappear down the long driveway, Cáit suddenly sprints toward it, managing to catch up to the couple as Seán is closing the gate.

[5] The jury stated that "It is a film with a delicate story full of details about childhood, grief, parenthood and rebuilding a family.

The website's consensus reads, "A remarkable debut for writer-director Colm Bairéad, The Quiet Girl offers a deceptively simple reminder that the smallest stories can leave a large emotional impact.

"[14] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 89 out of 100 based on 29 critic reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".

[15] The Quiet Girl received 10 nominations at the 18th Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTAs) in March 2022, and won in seven categories.