Girls & Boys – Film Review
by Craig Doyle

Director – Donncha Gilmore
Writer – Donncha Gilmore
Stars – Liath Hannon, Adam Lunnon-Collery, Francis O’Mahony

Subverting expectations in film is a careful endeavour which has increasingly become reckless, subverting for the sake of shock over substance, for reactions over reasons. Donncha Gilmore’s Girls & Boys subverts in many ways, whether that be in relation to the genre, character tropes, or even Dublin City. Yet, Gilmore does this in such a way that the love and care put into each decision is present, pervading through each frame of his debut feature film, creating a piece which is uniquely beautiful, and vibrant at every turn.

Girls & Boys follows two Trinity students, with different worlds and struggles, both grappling with the ever-persistent challenge of ‘fitting in’, and how their identities contribute to that eternal struggle. Liath Hannon plays Charlie, a trans woman pursuing a film career, whose vulnerability excels in the quiet moments, in the passing glances. Hannon’s subtlety adds volumes to a beautifully penned script, every moment feeling authentic and unrehearsed. Adam Lunnon-Collery shines as Jace, a young man on the rugby team, questioning his place amongst them, evident from the first uncomfortable frame of him alongside his teammates amidst the stereotypical ‘locker-room banter’. Lunnon-Collery’s ability to highlight Jace’s cautionary tenseness is spectacular, his soft tone reflecting his uncertainty of self. As a seemingly ‘normal’ guy who fits within an accepted societal role, Jace’s struggle with concepts of masculinity and his identity feels extremely important, especially today.

Similar to character-centric dramas like Before Sunrise, the film focuses on emotionally weighted conversations between our two leads. Hannon and Lunnon-Collery’s effortless chemistry allows the audience to feel the meaning behind every word, each interaction beautifully and often painfully real. The cleverly crafted screenplay touches on such universal themes in devastating ways that the audience can’t help but relate to as this pair of students unravels what it means to ‘fit in’ in modern society. Fionnuala McCormack, the cinematographer on this project, frames these interactions with a series of lingering close-ups, capturing their words with such a profound intimacy that each glance or twitch resonated as you become so enveloped within the scene.

Dublin City, the backdrop for the majority of this story, is presented in a way that I don’t think I’ve ever seen on screen. The city is bright, the radiant colours from the office blocks, to the ever noteworthy LEDs of the Convention Centre, stand out in the night-time setting in a way which feels warm and homely. Whether McCormack is shooting wide aerial shots or handheld shots, rushing through our many pubs and restaurants, Dublin looks breathtaking, eliciting an unsuspected feeling of pride. The fuzzy nature of the multiple film-camera montages throughout definitely adds to this unfamiliar, comforting feeling in relation to our capital city. Girls & Boys is unashamedly Irish, evidently confident in its production, and rightfully so. Important to note also that the soundtrack is compiled of music from a variety of independent Irish artists, an amazing selection of tracks, which felt truly reflective of the world Gilmore established.

The subject matter handled is heavy and certainly holds no punches. From explorations of queer identity and sexual orientation, to trauma and forgiveness, the film risked becoming too loaded; however, each issue is woven delicately into the story and naturally arises from the conflicting character dynamics at play. Perhaps Gilmore’s greatest achievement with this film is how he allowed characters to be imperfect, allowed them to be human. There are no saints here. Everyone has their own perspective and challenges, every character has scars and has caused them, they’re imperfect, and that’s what makes them compelling.

Girls & Boys, at its core, has a fundamental understanding of humanity and love, which ultimately results in a truly important work of Irish cinema, which is a complete delight throughout.