Relic

High above Belfast, an 85-year-old man holds a holy relic linked to Padre Pio. Every 13th night, devoted locals journey up the mountain seeking a sacred cure.

The relic is the remnants of a bandage said to have belonged to the patron saint of healing, and people travel from across Northern Ireland to be blessed or healed by it. Through personal testimonies and observed details of these nocturnal gatherings, Relic pieces together what this ritual means to those who make the journey. At its centre is Brendan, the 85-year-old keeper of the relic, a softly spoken man whose faith is quietly all-encompassing. The film begins with the voices of those who seek healing before gradually turning to Brendan himself, as Relic ruminates on faith, healing and sacrifice.