Breakfast on Pluto (2005)
Cillian Murphy stars as Kitten, a young transgender woman seeking a place to call home while attempting to track down her birth mother, in Neil Jordan’s 2005 film BREAKFAST ON PLUTO.
Today’s post was written by author/critic Gary Kramer (@garyemkramer on Instagram) - Be sure to follow his Instagram account for fantastic reviews, as well as information on new queer film releases!
BREAKFAST ON PLUTO
2005. UK/Ireland.
Director: Neil Jordan
Screenplay: Neil Jordan & Pat McCabe
Based on: “Breakfast on Pluto” (1998) by Pat McCabe
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Stephen Rea, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson, Ruth Negga & Gavin Friday
As Patrick “Kitten” Brogan, Cillian Murphy is simply fabulous in BREAKFAST ON PLUTO Neil Jordan’s 2005 adaptation of Patrick McCabe’s book. Decked out in leather, feathers, lipstick, and heels, and sporting a cheeky attitude, Murphy is the best reason to see this odd—and sometimes oddly moving—film. Told in 36 chapters that explode in more directions than shrapnel from a bomb, this film opens with Kitten pushing a pram and giving lip to sassy construction workers. While Kitten is comfortable with who she is here, the rest of the film shows the long road that got her there.
BREAKFAST ON PLUTO chronicles Kitten’s struggles for love and affection, and while she is at first encouraged by a hunky musician named Billy Hatchett (singer Gavin Friday, who is magnetic) it turns out that despite his affection, Billy is a gun runner for the IRA. Serious trouble soon ensues, and Kitten is once again turned out into the world, where she meets more bizarre characters, including a performer in a mouse suit (Brendan Gleeson) and a magician named Bertie (Stephen Rea) who is smitten with her.
There are some wonderfully exciting and romantic sequences in BREAKFAST ON PLUTO, and when the film is magical, it really soars. However, the film never quite explores Kitten’s sexual relationships with the men in her life. Instead Jordan focuses on Kitten’s strength as a survivor and her search for her mother. Still, Murphy gives a seductive, showstopping performance in a film that provides a heady mix of sex, politics, and religion. Viewers will find plenty of food for thought here.
BREAKFAST ON PLUTO is streaming on Prime, PlutoTV, Roku & Freevee (USA), for rent/purchase with AppleTV and Amazon, and also available on DVD.
