Kisses

Kisses is a gripping, bittersweet story of two prepubescent neighbors, living in the suburbs of Dublin - Dylan (Shane Curry) and Kylie (Kelly O'Neill). The movie was released in 2008, written and directed by the prodigious Irish filmmaker Lance Daly.

Brought to life beautifully by Shane Curry and Kelly O'Neill, Dylan and Kylie, our central characters, captivate the screen with their compelling performances. Dylan is often abused by his alcoholic father, while Kylie suffers from the neglect of her family mainly due to the distress caused by her creepy uncle. United by their shared experiences, the two children are bound by a unique friendship that seems to provide the only glimmers of hope and joy in their otherwise dreary existence.

The film sets its pace by establishing the dark realities the duo deal with in their daily lives. This is accompanied by an atmospheric use of raw, grimy realism in terms of the settings, which helps to shape the sobering and desolate lives these children lead. Moving away from the physical and emotional battles the two face, Kisses takes a turn towards adventure when Dylan and Kylie decide to escape from their bleak suburban lives and ride out into the bright lights of inner-city Dublin on Christmas Eve. Armed with little more than youthful energy, the promise of a better life, and some stolen cash, Dylan and Kylie step on to an extraordinary journey of survival, discovery, and self-realization.

The children's trip to the city is packed with an array of memorable moments. These include their encounters with a spectrum of characters, some generous, some malevolent, and some merely lost, much like them. The central part of the movie portrays how these two lost souls explore the city, revealing their innocence, their virtues, their insecurities, and their unspoken affection for each other. As they attempt to survive the night in the city, their resilience and the strength of their friendship become overtly apparent, adding depth and veracity to their characters.

Kisses celebrates the spirit of Irish storytelling with its use of gritty realism, engaging dialogues, and folklore references; Dylan’s obsession with the musician Bob Dylan is a touch that adds dimension to his otherwise stoic character. The use of black and white film that gradually transitions to color as they arrive in Dublin helps to amplify the sense of escapism and at the same time highlights the severity of the children's lives back home.

Kelly O'Neill and Shane Curry deliver outstanding performances, showcasing a level of maturity and understanding of their characters which is profoundly impressive. Their performances are one of the film's high points, poignantly depicting the desperation of their circumstances from the nuances of their acting.

Paul Roe plays the supporting role of Dylan's abusive father, adding another layer of complexity to the character, highlighting the fact that he himself is a victim of his circumstances. His performance elucidates the film's portrayal of the cycles of abuse and poverty.

Kisses blends whimsicality with an acute sense of realism. The children's dreams and imaginative escapades crisscross with the bleak yet stark reality of their circumstances. Guided by Daly's poignant writing and direction, the film does a sublime job of presenting an intimate tale of two children caught in circumstances beyond their age, yet finding solace and strength in each other. Combined with a thought-provoking narrative and stellar performances, Kisses is not just a story about two children escaping their cruel lives, but also a symbolic testament to the enduring human spirit and the transformative power of friendship.