Comedy,Drama
France,United Kingdom
Mickybo and Me is a 2004 Irish drama film directed by Terry Loane. It is set in Belfast in the 1970s during the Troubles, a period of political violence between Irish nationalists and unionists. The film follows the lives of two young boys, Mickybo (John Joe McNeill) and Jonjo (Niall Wright), who become friends despite coming from different social and religious backgrounds.
Mickybo is a Protestant boy from the Shankill Road area of Belfast while Jonjo is a Catholic boy from the Falls Road area. They bond over their shared love of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a Western film starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. They often reenact scenes from the movie and dream of escaping from their troubled lives to Australia, just like Butch and Sundance did in the film.
As the political violence in Belfast intensifies, Mickybo and Jonjo decide to run away from home to find their own adventure. They make their way to the Belfast docklands and stow away on a ship heading to Australia. However, their dreams of a new life are shattered when they are caught and brought back to Belfast by the police.
The film portrays the innocence and vulnerability of childhood and the impact of violence on young lives. It also highlights the need for friendship, understanding, and mutual respect among people from different backgrounds. Mickybo and Me was well-received by critics and won several awards, including Best Irish Film at the 2005 Irish Film and Television Awards.
