Dylan (Shane Curry) lives with his alcoholic and abusive father and his subservient mother in a wretched slum in north Dublin. He tries to escape this oppressive environment by constantly playing video games. Near Christmas time, Dylan has a violent fight with his father and decides to run away.
Kylie (Kelly O'Neill), his next-door neighbor, has her own problems with a nasty sister and an uncaring mother. She has a preteen crush on Dylan and accompanies him on his exit from the slum. They catch a canal barge operated by a carefree fellow (David Bendito) who gives them the space to play and relax on the first leg of their journey. Dylan's quest is to locate his older brother who fled home two years ago and hasn't been heard from since then.
In the city of Dublin, the two youth are exhilarated by their sense of freedom and wary of their future. Kylie has some money given to her by an uncle who sexually abused her a while back. They buy some clothes and wheelie-sneakers that allow them to glide through the streets as if they were visitors from another planet where people didn't have to plod along using their two feet. They find out that Dylan's brother had been kicked out of the place where he was staying and is probably now homeless. They do not have any luck in finding him.
Lance Daly directs this gritty and well-acted Irish film that begins in black and white and then shifts to color as the adventure begins in Dublin. Kylie believes in the fairy tale stories of the Sackman who steals children in a black bag and takes them away to another world. Dylan is much more realistic and knows that the risk of the streets are far more dangerous than they know. One terrifying incident brings out Dylan's heroism and demonstrates to Kylie how much he cares. Throughout the film, there are references to Bob Dylan and his songs are used on the soundtrack; they add sparkle and spunk to this engaging tale about two friends who become more precious to each other during their adventures. Best of all is the warm and luscious kiss which seals Dylan and Kylie's emotional and spiritual connection.
Special features include audio commentary with the candy-chomping, cheeky stars Kelly O'Neill and Shane Curry; bawdy outtakes with the cast and crew; "Making Kisses" — a behind the scenes look.
