9. Kisses (2008)
Kylie and Dylan are two wayward adolescents living in a deprived area on the outskirts of Dublin. Their families are dysfunctional and life for the pair of them is bleak, bitter and harsh. Together, they form an alliance fuelled by the crappiness of their families. Dylan's father is in a state of perpetual rage and Kylie's uncle is a dirty pervert. Kylie keeps a box of cash stowed under her bed. Dylan's father goes mental, attacking his wife and then Dylan. Kylie helps Dylan escape. Kylie and Dylan go on an adventure in downtown Dublin to find Dylan's long lost brother. Unfortunately like father, like son, and Dylan's brother was kicked out of his flat for fighting six months ago. Dylan thinks they should go home now but Kylie reveals she has been assaulted by her uncle and she says that she never wants to go back home. Sleeping in some cardboard boxes, Kylie is snatched and spirited away by a pervert. Dylan gives chase, saving Kylie and they go back to the boxes to sleep. At this point Kylie and Dylan realise they have fallen for each other and share a kiss. They wake up to find they have been bunking down with a dead man. This takes away the glamour of street life and Kylie and Dylan return to their families. Very well received by the critics and the film festivals it was shown at, Kisses' success depends upon the two young leads - Kelly O'Neill as Kylie and Shane Curry as Dylan - both were non professional actors and this lends a gritty realism to the film. The chemistry between them is excellent - and therefore makes the eventual romance between them more believable. In fact we are relieved that Kylie and Dylan have each other, because they sure as heck do not have anyone else. In the end, when they are returned to their families, Kylie blows Dylan a kiss and we are relieved. This is because no matter how unbearable their home lives may be, they have each other for love and support, and that makes all the difference to enduring their problems. The film is technically very impressive with the screen alternating between black and white when the characters are unhappy and colour when they are fulfilled. Stephen Rea impresses as a Bob Dylan look a like and the Bob Dylan score lends extra pep to the movie. The Christmas setting adds an air of magic to the film and director Lance Daly deserves special credit for putting the whole thing together and coaxing excellent performances out of his two young actors. A revelation.