“The bravest thing you can be is yourself, even when the world is looking the other way.”VIBE CHECK:Coming-of-Age / Gritty / Heartfelt / Irish Realism / Bittersweet THE PLOT:Expanded from the award-winning short film Lily, this feature follows best friends Lily (Clara Harte) and Simon (Dean Quinn) as they navigate their final years of school in Dublin. While Simon is unapologetically camp and "devil-may-care," Lily is more guarded, struggling to reconcile her blossoming lesbian identity with the censorious attitudes of her peers. After a misunderstanding with the popular Violet (Venetia Bowe) leads to a vicious repercussions, Lily and Simon find sanctuary and hard-won wisdom in Dublin’s queer nightlife under the protective, if reluctant, wing of their mentor, Oonagh (Amy-Joyce Hastings). THE QUEER & RADICAL ANGLE:The Radical Mentor: The film is radical in its portrayal of intergenerational queer mentorship. Oonagh represents the "sharp-eyed" protector, bridging the gap between the isolation of youth and the vibrant community that awaits them. Confronting the "Nice" Bully: It offers a radical, honest look at the "dangerous innocence" of characters like Violet, exposing how social sabotage and "two-faced" friendship can be just as damaging as overt homophobia. Authentic Irish Queerness: By rooting the story specifically in Dublin and its suburbs, the film performs a radical act of visibility for young Irish LGBTQ+ people, making their specific local struggles and triumphs universally accessible. WHY IT KILLS:It is "thoughtful, credible, and deeply entertaining". The transition from the claustrophobic school environment to the "vibrant and sometimes dark" Dublin queer scene provides a visual and emotional release that feels earned. Clara Harte and Dean Quinn share a chemistry that captures the "fierce loyalty" of queer platonic friendship—the kind that saves lives. It’s a film that doesn't shy away from the heartache of coming out, but it balances the pain with a "great deal of love" and the ultimate promise of belonging.
HOMECOMING SCORE: 9.2 /
👑 WHO WE LOVE 2021
