CATRIONA PAUL at the Movies.

COMBINE the naff title and the idea of a drama about wheelchair users discovering freedom and you may turn a million corners to avoid anything so worthy. But word is spreading – this is an immensely moving picture with sharp, funny dialogue, wonderful acting and engaging characters. Late-comers at an ordinary Monday night screening struggled to find a seat.
 
Directed by Damien O’Donnell, whose last hit was East is East, the story begins when charismatic Rory (James McAvoy of Channel 4’s Shameless) arrives at Carrigmore, “A Special Home for Special People”. He suffers from a degenerative form of muscular dystrophy, which means he can’t move accept to control his electric wheelchair. He attempts a revolution, insisting on personal freedoms (loud music late at night), despite the communal set up, drawing the ire of the home’s director, Eileen (Brenda Fricker).
  
Rory’s rebellion inspires Michael (Steven Robertson, from the Shetland village of Vidlin), a fellow resident and sufferer of cerebral palsy. Michael has lived in the home since childhood, held back by unintelligible speech, and has little concept of what life is like “outside”. He is thrown a life-line when Rory miraculously understands his every word. The two make plans for independent living – finding a flat and a gorgeous carer (Romala Garai) – following a night out in Dublin funded by a bucket of charitable donations. But all is not destined to run smoothly, when both men fall in love with their carer and illness threatens Rory.
  
Rory is fierce and funny, angry and vulnerable, attractive from the first spikey words he utters. Michael is harder to get to know because of his poor speech, which proves at least as restrictive as an inability to move. But, by the end of the film (as audience tears roll freely), you recognise a heroism in Michael that is not apparent at first glance.
  
This film’s all about spirit, not wheelchairs. Get over the title, go see it.
  
INSIDE I’M DANCING
Selected cinemas.

Director: Damien O’Donnell
Scriptwriters: Jeffrey Caine
Cast: James McAvoy, Stevem Robertson, Romala Garai, Brenda Fricker, Ruth McCabe, Tom Hickey, Gerard McSorley, Pat Shortt, Stanley Townsend, Ofu Uhiara
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 104 mins
Country: UK / Ireland
Year: 2004
 

© Catriona Paul, 2004