KISSES

Ireland, 2008, 72 minutes, Black and white/Colour.
Directed by Lance Daly.

A very brief feature about two youngsters during one day in Dublin, Dylan and Kylie. They seem to live in ordinary families but we soon discover that Dylan's father is violent and that Dylan's older brother had left home so years before. Kylie's older sister picks on her and her mother makes Kylie do the work. She is also wary of her uncle Maurice.

After a particularly violent outburst against him, Dylan decides to run away and Kylie joins him. The day is both ordinary and eventful, pleasant on a barge where the captain tells them about Bob Dylan and his music, difficult when they find the street for Dylan's brother has lots and lots of houses. Other adventures have them helping a street busker (and Kylie taking a cut of the money collected) but as night falls things become more sinister, especially when a car of pedophiles presume that she is on the streets. Dylan clings to the car and rolls on his wheels in pursuit. They do meet a kindly Bob Dylan lookalike (an uncredited Stephen Rea). They tell their stories to each other and their secrets and then have to make the decision whether to go home or not.

Very well acted by the two children, this is a sad tale of contemporary families and their effect on the children. The film opens in black and white and becomes more colourful as their adventures go on – and then the colour fades.

1.A brief Irish film? A focus on children? Irish perspective? Universal interest?

2.The title, the children and the kisses, Dylan and his learning, Kylie and her response? The adults? The various kisses throughout the film? The absence of signs of affection, especially in the family?

3.Dublin and its streets, the coast, homes, the river and the barge, the city areas, night, the clubs, dangers? The feel for Dublin? The score?

4.The use of black and white, the transitions to colour – explanation or not? Effect?

5.The children, the performances, believable, sustaining the film?

6.The introduction to Dylan, at home, his father, his return, his brutality, his brother leaving the family, the mother and the violence?

7.Kylie at home, her sister and her offhand manner, her mother, getting Kylie to do the work, the visit of the family, the Christmas presents, Uncle Maurice and her reaction to him?

8.Dylan and Kylie and their friendship, talking about marrying in the future, Kylie having to take the baby for a walk, the schoolgirls and their sex taunts?

9.Dylan, his father’s brutality, going to his room, escaping through the window, the ladder, falling, running away?

10.Dylan and Kylie, their personalities, as children, nice, worldly-wise, their talk, the relationship with their families, the effect of their families on them?

11.The decision to run away, their feelings, finding the barge, jumping on, the friendly captain, Bob Dylan’s music, his singing? The effect?

12.The city, its look, the decision to search for the brother, the street, the many houses, knocking on the doors, the variety of people and their way of life, the black prostitute and her client, Dylan’s comments? The other places, the riverside?

13.The musician, singing in the city, Kylie helping with the collection – and wanting a cut?

14.The encounter with the Down- Under Dylan, his good advice and friendship?

15.The car, the men and wanting to pick up Kylie, abducting her, Dylan and the wheels, the chase, the escape?

16.The truth about Kylie, her uncle, behaviour?

17.The effect of the night, the hardships, the sack man? The chase? The variety of people?

18.The decision to go home, the reception for each of them? The families?

19.A perceptive look at children and the hazards in family, abuse, lack of affection? Children and their taking responsibility for their lives?