1997 · drama · comedy · irish
The Butcher Boy
Directed by Neil Jordan1h 50m1997
Francie and Joe live the usual playful, fantasy filled childhoods of normal boys. However, with a violent, alcoholic father and a manic depressive, suicidal mother the pressure on Francie to grow up are immense. When Francie's world turns to madness, he tries to counter it with further insanity, with dire consequences.
Our read: The Butcher Boy (1997) reads as a sombre, kinetic, surreal drama · comedy · irish entry — measured in intensity, intimate in scope, cold in temperature, nihilistic in outlook.
Sombre, kinetic, measured drama / comedy, surreal in texture. Nihilistic, intimate, cold.
- sombre
- brisk
- intense
- inventive
- bleak
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Availability in the UK · via JustWatch
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How The Butcher Boy feels to watch.
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“You want dark Irish coming-of-age surrealism with real bite.”
Skip it tonight — You need something lighter than abuse, madness, and childhood trauma.
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