Kisses (2010)

85% of critics liked it
(52 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(1,337 ratings)

A pair of young runaways find both beauty and danger in the big city in an evocative drama from writer and director Lance Daly. Dylan (Shane Curry) is an 11-year-old boy growing up with an alcoholic father who often uses his children as punching bags. One day, Dylan decides he can take no more, and… More A pair of young runaways find both beauty and danger in the big city in an evocative drama from writer and director Lance Daly. Dylan (Shane Curry) is an 11-year-old boy growing up with an alcoholic father who often uses his children as punching bags. One day, Dylan decides he can take no more, and he makes plans to run away from home. His close friend Kylie (Kelly O'Neill), a girl of ten living next door, is also the product of an abusive family, and when she learns that Dylan is leaving home, she steals a wad of cash from her family and joins him. Making their way out of town on a barge driven by a sympathetic sailor with a yen for music, Dylan and Kylie end up in Dublin just as the Christmas season is going into full swing. The two friends explore the city, which seems magical even at its shabbiest. But while Dublin seems like a paradise of lights and magic by day, they learn that the city's sinister side comes into focus after the sun goes down. Kisses also stars Stephen Rea and Paul Roe. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Directed By: Lance Daly
Written By: Lance Daly
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International

In Theaters: Jul 16, 2010 Wide
Studio: Oscilloscope Pictures

Critic Reviews

Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail
A coming-of-age drama so Irish you'll want to take out your Pogues' lyric sheets beforehand to brush up on Gaelic mumbling.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
What the writer and director, Lance Daly, means as some kind of transporting urban adventure for them is a disenchanting slog for us.
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle
It's arresting.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
A marginally sweet movie about two woebegone Irish kids.
Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter
Rewarding tale of two kids loose on Dublin's mean streets with outstanding performances.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
Terrific non-pro actors Kelly O'Neill (Kylie) and Shane Curry (Dylan) are the backbone of the film, directed by Lance Daly, who says as a kid he thought of running away.
Mike Edwards, What Culture
It's exciting, sweet, gritty and generally just a joy to watch.
Jim Slotek, Jam! Movies
There are undoubtedly more dark days ahead for Kylie and Dylan, but in Kisses, we see the beginning of character forged by circumstance.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
In writer-director Lance Daly?s lens, downtown Dublin is like a modern-day Oz ? and the movie even starts by showing the kids? dreary home life in black-and-white, slowly moving to full color.
Jeff Meyers, Metro Times (Detroit, MI)
Sincere and vulnerable, aching with youthful insight
Stan Hall, Oregonian
Cute but foul-mouthed, tough but vulnerable and obviously crazy about each other in a reticent way, these kids are a wonderful presence, giving the most contrived scenes genuine emotion and a veneer of realness.
James Verniere, Boston Herald
A darkling, modern-day fairy tale and lyrical coming-of-age story, Irish filmmaker Lance Daly's 2008 film "Kisses" is a small gem.
Zak Jason, Boston Phoenix
When it's not trite, Kisses can be refreshing in its realism.
Kelly Vance, East Bay Express
Lance Daly's Ireland is not the scenic Irish wonderland of Ondine.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
A blend of gritty realism sand magical fantasy that's undoubtedly calculated but still deeply satisfying.
Ron Wilkinson, Monsters and Critics
Dorothy parachutes into Dublin in search of the Wizard but there is no place like home.
Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
Exquisitely-shot and deeply affecting with just the right balance of humor, sweetness and grittiness. Newcomers Kelly O'Neill and Shane Curry shine in raw, heartfelt and charismatic performances.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
A Xmas where neverending nightmares instead of sugarplums dance in children's heads
Stephanie Zacharek, Movieline
There's nothing so frustrating as a small movie, made by a clearly gifted filmmaker, that flies close to magic only to be sternly jerked back to earth.

Read all 19 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Byron B

The shifting contrast and saturation of color throughout was used creatively to show the dull/scary home life and exciting/scary life on the streets of the young heroes. Shane as Dylan is a quiet boy whose father can get violent. Kelly as Kylie, his neighbor, is expressive and very… More
The shifting contrast and saturation of color throughout was used creatively to show the dull/scary home life and exciting/scary life on the streets of the young heroes. Shane as Dylan is a quiet boy whose father can get violent. Kelly as Kylie, his neighbor, is expressive and very visually interesting from the camera's perspective. Kylie helps Dylan escape when his father has another violent outburst. Like in many families, Kylie doesn't get along with her big sister, but she also doesn't feel she can tell her mom about sexual abuse from her uncle, so she decides to run away with Dylan. As the opening image of a dead gold fish shows, the movie is about some of the uglier things pre-teens could go through. They make their way to the big city of Dublin and have fun, at first, shopping at a mall. Like many kids their age, they love those wheelie shoes. They try to search for Dylan's older brother who had run away several years before. It is quite a quest trying to survive on the streets and they meet a bunch of colorful characters. They feel free and have fun as often as they struggle to find food and safe shelter. Eventually Dylan must return the favor by saving Kylie from a very dangerous situation and they officially decide they belong together. They face death out on the streets, but when they are returned home, home seems just as dangerous. You are left wondering if being there for each other will be enough to pull them through. "You were right. There is no devil. Only people."
Daisy M

Irish movie KISSES was one typical and enjoyable road movie with a very simple plot set around Christmas time in the streets of Dublin. It followed the adventures of two children Dylan (Shane Curry) and Kylie (Kelly O'Neill), who are neighbors, and they decided to run away from… More
Irish movie KISSES was one typical and enjoyable road movie with a very simple plot set around Christmas time in the streets of Dublin. It followed the adventures of two children Dylan (Shane Curry) and Kylie (Kelly O'Neill), who are neighbors, and they decided to run away from their awful family on Christmas Day.It was a short feature movie filmed some parts in black and white, showing mostly the journey of the kids,in the dark side of Dublin, in the dangerous back alleys, as they tried to survive on their own.The movie by itself was good, also the photography, and music by Bob Dylan, the dialog was pure Irish, but with the help of English subtitles, it will surely help you a lot. I was captivated how they built their friendship,and their acting which was so natural.

Currently unavailable on Flixster

Also available on

Other Retailers

Not Available

Subscription Services

Not Available

Cast

Kelly O'Neill
as Kylie
Shane Curry
as Dylan
Paul Roe
as Dylan's Da
Neili Conroy
as Dylan's Ma
David Bendito
as Dredger Captain
Roy Dempsey
as Mini Moto Rider
Aaron Courtney
as Mini Moto Rider
Cathy Malone
as Kylie's Ma
Stephanie Kelly
as Kylie's Sister
Maria De Bri
as Kylie's Baby Sister
Niall Martin
as Kylie's Brother #1
Michael Hunt
as Kylie's Brother #2
Shauna Kelly
as Rude Girl #1
Krista Greene
as Rude Girl #2
Shannon Lysaght
as Rude Girl #3
Sean McDonagh
as Uncle Maurice
Hilda Fay
as Anita
Willie Higgins
as The Sackman
Neili Conro
Elizabeth Fuh
Jose Jimanez

See more (21)

Kisses (2010)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Byron B

Daisy M

Also available on

Other Retailers

Subscription Services

Cast

Trailers & Clips

Watch offline from your computer

Flixster Desktop

Watch on your TV

Google TV

Microsoft XBOX 360

Sony Playstation 3

Watch on your tablet

iPad

Kindle Fire, Kindle Nook

Android tablets

Watch on your phone

iPhone, iPod Touch

Android phones

Are you sure?

Google TV Get the Flixster app , then sign in	Microsoft XBOX 360 Get the Vudu app, connect to UltraViolet. Rentals currently not available. Flixster app coming soon!
Sony Playstation 3 Get the Vudu app, connect to UltraViolet. Rentals currently not available. Flixster app coming soon!

iPad Get the Flixster app , then sign in	Kindle Fire, Kindle Nook Get the Flixster app , then sign in
Android tablets Get the Flixster app , then sign in