Saint Patrick's Day: 10 Movies That Represent 'Irishness' Best

6. Adam And Paul (2004)

Lenny Abrahamson's Adam and Paul (2004) is set in modern day Dublin. Billed primarily as a comedy, it will offer you far fewer laughs indeed. It is a bleak account of two lowly drug addict friends as they wonder around Dublin desperately attempting to score heroin. With nothing but the clothes on their backs and each other, they seek out their fix. There are a few comical moments, some of which certain people may consider as silly. However, I feel they are necessary inclusions, which duly camouflage the obvious serious themes, making the film as a whole more palatable to a wider audience. However, there is one non-violent scene, where all of comedic inclusions are stripped back and the audience is very much exposed to the plight of narcotic induced desperation- an unfortunate problem still in our mists today. On the flip side, we are provided with a realistic and in depth look into the truths and falsities beyond resilient friendships in an ever changing, unevenly distributed contemporary realm. Abrahamson is worshiped as one of the brightest stars of the Irish film industry. He has undoubtedly made some great pictures, such as this and Garage (2007). Yet one cannot help but consider the ever increasing amount of pretentiousness creeping its way into his work. The multiple IFTA winning picture What Richard Did (2012) featured a most unlikable set of characters whom were played with such self-awareness, it irritates one to even contemplate.