Director: Fintan Connolly
A missing-persons case pulls a Dublin private investigator into a web of dangerous men in Barber, a 2023 Irish crime thriller from Fintan Connolly.
What is Barber about?
Val Barber makes his living finding people who don't want to be found, but the case brought to him by a wealthy widow proves to be far more than a routine job. Her granddaughter has vanished, and what looks at first like a simple disappearance quickly unravels into something far murkier once Barber starts pulling threads. The investigation is set against a pandemic-era Dublin, its quiet streets and shuttered businesses adding an eerie stillness to an already tense search. As secrets tied to the missing woman surface, Barber finds himself facing off against powerful, morally compromised men determined to keep the truth buried, and he has to decide how far he's willing to push before the case pushes back. The film builds its tension through patient, character-driven investigation rather than flashy set pieces, staying grounded in the paranoia of a city under lockdown.
Cast & crew
Aidan Gillen anchors the film in the title role, joined by Steve Wall, Desmond Eastwood, Liam Carney, Rúaidhrí Conroy, Gary Lydon, Ailbhe Cowley, and Nick Dunning, who fill out a cast of Dublin locals whose motives grow harder to trust as the search continues.
Context & significance
Director Fintan Connolly sets Barber during the height of pandemic restrictions, turning an emptied-out Dublin into an atmospheric backdrop rather than a mere historical marker. The choice gives the private-investigator genre a distinctly local, contemporary texture, with isolation working as both mood and plot device. At around 90 minutes, the film keeps its focus tight on Barber's investigation, resisting the urge to pad the mystery with unnecessary detours.
Where & how to watch
Barber is available to stream on K-Time with a free account login, and viewers can watch with Persian dubbing or Persian subtitles, part of the platform's broader effort to serve Farsi-speaking audiences with a fully localized interface.