No. 64 (2021) DATING AMBER AUGUST 9th.

 

Film No. 64 (2021)  Aug 9th.  1:15 PM   Cinema 1   LUNA,  Leederville. 

"You're the only boy in the world I'm glad I dated." (Amber reinforces the depth of her friendship to Eddie on one of their fun excursions to Dublin).

DATING AMBER deals with sensitive subject matter, if you don't mind; Teenagers coming to grips with their sexual preferences in conservative, outer suburban Dublin in the mid-nineties. This would have caused many an adolescent a sleepless night or two. So why is this small film gaining kudos for its entertainment value? Because it's pretty dammed entertaining, that's why!

Don't be put off by the sometimes overly earnest nature of this film. David Freyne's (Writer/Director) fresh approach to bringing young actors into the world of cinema through colourful costuming and smart, tight dialogue, is invigorating. Eddie (Fionn O'Shea) and Amber (Lola Petticrew) are cast perfectly as the troubled pair. Their uncomplicated outer masks hide their complicated inner selves. They team up as "young lovers" to ward off their prying peers who play more like comic book characters.

Amber is an only child to single mum, Jill (Simone Kirby). Her father's sudden death years before weighs on Jill but Amber can't be restricted by the past. She is the positive rock Eddie can lean on as he grapples with his sexuality while Amber becomes comfortable with who she is. There's also the delightful Jack, Eddie's younger brother who steals some of the film's best lines while showing genuine sibling love. Look out for the name Evan O'Connor in years to come.

Yes, Sharon Horgan (CATASTROPHE)is there as Eddie's loving mammy. She loved the script, supported Freyne on a beer budget and surprisingly took out Best Supporting Female at the IFT Awards. Horgan is always charismatic on screen.

My favourite film this year so far is HERSELF. A more serious jab at constraints in Irish  domestic life. In Dating Amber, Freyne takes another jab. A jab using lighter tones but with no less strength of message. DATING AMBER won't break box-office records, but it will continue to push that barrow called tolerance. 9GUMS.