Breakfast on Pluto (2005)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Neil Jordan

Writers:

Neil Jordan (written by) and
Pat McCabe (written by) ...

Release Date:

13 January 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

In the 1970s, a foundling lad, Patrick "Kitten" Braden, comes of age by leaving his Irish town for London, in part to look for his mother and in part because his trans-gender nature is beyond the town's understanding.

Plot Keywords:

Foundling | 1970s | IRA | Police | Friendship

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Cillian Murphy	...	Patrick 'Kitten' Braden
Morgan Jones	...	Building Site Worker
Eva Birthistle	...	Eily Bergin
Liam Neeson	...	Father Liam
Mary Coughlan	...	Housekeeper
Conor McEvoy	...	Young Patrick Braden
Ruth McCabe	...	Ma Braden
Charlene McKenna	...	Caroline Braden
Seamus Reilly	...	Lawrence
Peter Owens	...	Butcher
Emmet Lawlor McHugh	...	Young Irwin
Bianca O'Connor	...	Young Charlie
Paraic Breathnach	...	Benny Feely
Pat McCabe	...	Peepers Egan / Schoolmaster (as Patrick McCabe)
Owen Roe	...	Dean

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language, some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

129 min | France:122 min

Country:

Ireland | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:MG6 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:R (certificate #41673) | Singapore:NC-16 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R13 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Ireland:15A | Norway:15 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Pathé Pictures International

Trivia:

Although she plays his mother in the film, Eva Birthistle is only two years older than Cillian Murphy

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Towards the end of the film Kitten pretends to be doing a survey for British Telecom. British Telecom didn't come into existence until 1981.

Quotes:

Patrick "Kitten" Braden: I knew you were only joking about the roses. And the sweeties. But it was nice while it lasted.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Se eida...: Ston antra tis zois mou... (#1.8)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Me & Mrs. Jones

Amazing, Touching Film

While this is not a completely conventional film either in structure or storytelling, it is deeply committed to telling the story of Kitten. Just as the film is committed, so is Cillian Murphy committed to being the best Kitten he can, and he succeeds to an almost uncomfortable point, which I think is part of the storytellers goal.

Who does not want to be loved? Not many of us, and Kitten wants it more than most. Her journey to find love in whatever form it may take is both touching and harrowing at times. You cringe when she finds her self in certain situations, and you root for her to take charge of her life, but that is something she is quite unable to do for the most part of her journey.

While this story features the good, the bad and the ugly of the transvestite lifestyle, there is no judgment being made, it is presented as a simple fact of Kitten's life from nearly the first time you see her. That in itself is refreshing. There are stereotypes, but not presented in stereotypical situation, which is also refreshing.

I came away from this movie with a warm feeling in my heart for the character, the story, and the commitment of everyone involved in the film, it drew me in, it took me to places I did not expect, and it gave me a film experience you simply can not find every day in our cookie cutter Hollywood film world these days. My hat is off to all of you involved in the film. If you like something different, something unexpected, and something unusual made with a lot of love, this is the film for you.