- Film Review
- Reviewed By Sloan Freer
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3 out of 5
Writer/director Neil Jordan revisits some of the themes from his earlier career - including transvestism and IRA terrorism - with this surreal rite-of-passage tale. Set in the glam-rock-soaked 1970s, this whimsical movie is based on the imaginative novel by Patrick McCabe, who also collaborated with Jordan on The Butcher Boy . It's the flamboyant yet poignant story of cross-dressing teen Patrick "Kitten" Braden (Cillian Murphy), whose determination to find his real mother leads to an outrageous series of misadventures. While crackling with political tension and sinister unease, events are largely played for laughs - albeit of the darkest variety. Aside from Murphy's delightfully exaggerated performance, there are a host of vibrant characters, including Stephen Rea's sensitive magician and Liam Neeson's emotionally tortured priest. Occasionally the film is too self-consciously left-field, but it's hard not to be won over by the sheer optimism of Jordan's colourful fantasy.
Plot Summary
Black comedy drama starring Cillian Murphy, Liam Neeson and Stephen Rea. Abandoned by his mother as a baby, young Patrick Braden grows up with a taste for cross-dressing that causes consternation among his foster family in small-town Ireland. When he becomes a teenager, he assumes the identity of androgynous beauty "Kitten" and takes off on a series of flamboyant misadventures.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Patrick "Kitten" Braden
- Cillian Murphy
- Bertie
- Stephen Rea
- John Joe Kenny
- Brendan Gleeson
- Father Liam
- Liam Neeson
- Eily Bergin
- Eva Birthistle
- Mosher, 1st biker
- Liam Cunningham
- Mr Silky String
- Bryan Ferry
- Charlie
- Ruth Negga
- Billy Hatchett
- Gavin Friday
- PC Wallis
- Ian Hart
- Irwin
- Laurence Kinlan
Crew
- Director
- Neil Jordan
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