{image1}While "Inside I'm Dancing" was Irish director Damien O'Donnell's tender title for his latest film about a pair of wheelchair-bound men who find freedom for themselves outside of an institution, American distributors have opted for "Rory O'Shea Was Here."
And, for once, we agree with them. Surely, they chose the title so we'd all know it's an Irish film, which will certainly help draw the Irish-o-phile crowd. But the film's boisterous vibe and two fingers in the face of authority are better suited to "Rory O'Shea Was Here."
The Carrigmore Home for the Disabled is a pretty somber place filled with people who have been affected by all kinds of afflictions that have to spend their lives in wheelchairs. Their caretakers hire cheesy entertainment, bathe them and lead them in crafts classes. One of the residents is Michael Connolly (Steven Robertson), the son of a well-known judge, who has cerebral palsy, which has also affected his speech.
Everything changes when 20-year-old Rory O'Shea arrives on the scene with his leather jacket, spiky hair and no less pointy attitude. He plays his music loud, makes jokes at the expense of his fellow residents and generally sticks in the craw of most people at Carrigmore.
His dream is to get government assistance to live independently in a Dublin apartment. When all his chances fail, his blossoming friendship with Michael -- which is sparked by the fact that only Rory can tell what Michael is saying -- may eventually get him the freedom he wants.
The quieter, less-rebellious (seemingly) Michael has no trouble getting assistance, and Rory is allowed to move in to serve as his "interpreter." The pair uses its assistance money to hire the charming Siobhan (Romola Garai) to help them with their day-to-day lives.
But will the fact that both fellas have a taste for Siobhan doom their friendship and their chance to carve out independent lives in a world not generally welcoming to people with disabilities?
While Rory can teach Michael about girls and drinking and freedom, Michael has some lessons of his own for Rory.
The performances by the three principals are fabulous, and while the film always has to sidestep becoming a schmaltzy drama with "a message," it never sinks below being a sometimes funny, sometimes poignant and often inspiring drama with a message.
"Rory O'Shea Was Here" is out now on DVD.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
