NEW YORK - Tony winner John Patrick Shanley, best known for writing “Doubt” and the screenplay for “Moonstruck” takes us to Ireland with his latest romantic tale.

“My father was from Ireland and grew up on the farm that the movie and the play were based on, and I took him home and that's how I came to Ireland for the first time. And I was introduced to that farm and getting into the film was sort of like getting to take him home a second time and to really celebrate the beauties of the country,” said the playwright and screenwriter Shanley.

The film stars Emily Blunt, who plays the head strong character of Rosemary Muldoon, determined to win the affection of her neighbor Anthony Reilly, played by Jamie Dornan. We see their characters living a somewhat simpler life on the farm. When asked if they noticed any parallels in how our daily lives have changed since the start of the pandemic Dornan said the farm definitely puts things into perspective.

“It's been a devastating year for so many people, but it has made us all sort of peel back whether it's important in life,” said Dornan.

Reilly’s American cousin played by Jon Hamm, interested in buying the family’s farm, comes in and casts doubt in Muldoon’s mind.

“He is more of a catalyst to, to kind of push these two together,” said Hamm of his character. “It's kind of a lovely cynicism free zone of storytelling that we're in, which is sort of a nice palette cleanser to what has been a pretty cynical 2020 so far.”

And although the film is a love letter to Ireland, New York City also makes an appearance.

“You can see what is sort of a polarized existence, both worlds would offer her. One is where her soul belongs and the other is used in, New York City for her, is used as a sort of reckless, desperate escape from it all to try and shake it up and try and come to a decision in her life. And I think it's exciting for her, I think New York is sort of overwhelming and different and cool, and she's stunned by it, but I think we all have that feeling of, you know, where your soul belongs and where you feel most at home and most grounded. And I think ultimately it's back in Ireland for her, with Anthony [Reilly],” Blunt described of the juxtaposition between New York and Ireland.

You can catch “Wild Mountain Thyme” on demand and on other streaming platforms.