Its rare to find one
Irish actor playing in two films set in Ireland, released and
running in the same month. Things
are certainly looking up for Cillian Murphy the 21 year old Cork
actor. Not content with playing the emotionally disturbed
teenager in
"On the Edge" (also reviewed on this site), he goes
one better and plays the part of 'Pig' in this modern day
twisted love/bonding/obsession story.
Obsession is
the word, because its from the very day he was born in the
maternity hospital along side his co-star 'Runt' played by
Elaine Cassidy, that the two have become inseparable - to the
point of being incapable of existing with out each other.. well
on Pigs part anyway.
Directed by Kirsten
Sheriden, the daughter of well know Irish director Jim Sheriden,
she really sets the tone of the film in the opening sequence
which has some beautiful and imaginative imagery. Its not often
that a film starts of with a scene set in a mothers womb, but
its haunting. That and the clasping hands which is followed
through during their older years is effective.
Born within hours of
each other and living next door to one another, both had
dysfunctional parents interspersed with drink and abuse.
Seemingly out of control school wise 'Runt' is despatched to a
reform school in Donegal, while Pig is regarded as being a lost
cause. With flashbacks to their childhood, we arrive at the
feared pair who at this stage have every school pal on the
defensive. Known for his violence he usually gets what he
wants.. I would regard him as a psychopath in the making. They
have built up a secret code of telepathy between them - an
unspoken word which leads to some amusing scenes in the disco,
but later these turn to a brutal assault on 'Foxey' (Michael
Rawley). These scenes were perhaps the only bit that
Sheriden lost the plot... No sign of disco security etc.
So following 'Runts'
despatch to Donegal, we have the first separation, but not for
long. Pig takes the bus relating his story to anyone who would
listen about their fantasy to be 'King and Queen'. Watch the
cafe scene on a break in the trip. Arriving on her birthday, Pig
finds his love and returns to Cork with her.
'Runt' meanwhile has
made a friendship of sorts with a female pyromaniac in the
reform school which provides some amusing incidents. She has
also begun to explore other boys apart from 'Pig'. Eye contacts
in the disco with Marky played by Darren Healy are observed by
'Pig' and when this is repeated on their return to Cork. He can
take no more......... On the run, they go to Cross Haven beach
to be together, and face the inevitable. Each knows what the
reality is, but they chose to avoid it............ "90
minutes you will never forget".... the trailer words are accurate
enough.
The music is good in
parts, though I found the web site has really haunting music,
which I am listening to as I write this. The site is worth
visiting if u have Flash media and its at http://www.discopigs.com/
Interestingly, the
film was sub titled in Oz and New Zealand. Suppose they
reckoned the strong Cork accents would not go down well. The
producers tested the film in the states and found that 90% of
test viewers were able to understand the dialogue!!!
Murphy was chose as
he had already played the part in the stage production of the
film which was written by Enda Walsh.
Go and check it out.
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