Here Are the Young Men is a coming-of-age drama film directed by Eoin Macken, based on the novel of the same name by Rob Doyle. The movie follows a group of Dublin teenagers, Matthew, Rez, and Kearney, as they navigate through the post-school social vacuum of drinking, drugs, and wild parties.
Matthew, the protagonist of the story, is a sensitive teenager who wants to leave behind the small-mindedness of his hometown and embark on a bigger journey. However, his friends Rez and Kearney, who are nihilistic and deranged respectively, pull him down into a dark spiral of transgressive acts, including drugs, vandalism, and violence.
As the trio hurtles towards a devastating climax, Matthew begins to question his loyalty to his friends and discovers a new sense of self-awareness in the process. Along with his classmate and romantic interest, Jen, he sets off on a journey of self-discovery that ultimately leads him to a shocking revelation about the true nature of his friends.
The movie is a raw and unflinching portrayal of youth culture, exploring themes of toxic masculinity, mental health, and the search for identity. The cast comprises of rising stars such as Dean-Charles Chapman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Finn Cole, and Travis Fimmel. The film premiered at the 2020 Galway Film Festival and was released in the UK and Ireland in 2021.
