The Set Up For those of you know who know the story, it isn't so much about the set up as it is about what happens after the great kiss scene. IRA member Rea kidnaps and befriends a British soldier (Forest Whitaker). Whitaker escapes, but meets an untimely demise. Out of guilt, Rea decides to seek out his friend's girl from home, Dil (Davidson). He begins to fall for her and the two spark a romance for the ages. In For The Kill A red light envelopes the two in Davidson's undistinguished flat. Passion is just around the corner. Enraptured by their mutual attraction, so begins the make-out fest. Slightly awkward, but nonetheless sexy. What Makes It So Great Yeah, the big revelation that occurs later (She's a he! But that's just mincing genders) is one helluva twist. The two scenes - one that is so obviously passionate, and one that is an utter surprise - contextualise sexual attraction and romantic orientation as an interwoven, unpredictable, beautiful mess. The kiss itself seems like any other steamy scene from any other movie. And that's the profound nature of it. You (and Rea's insurgent) have no idea what that kiss means until later. Turns out it's just mutual attraction.
Ian Tilman Nichols is a film reviewer and enthusiast based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. You can hear more of his thoughts on films by checking out the It's Only a Podcast and Flicksation podcasts.
