Dating Amber

It's 1995 small town Ireland. Gay teen Eddie (Fionn O'Shea) is still in the closet even to himself. His parents (Sharon Horgan, Barry Ward) are constantly fighting. He's training to join the military and follow his father's footsteps. His lesbian classmate Amber (Lola Petticrew) is saving her money to escape their small town. Both kids are bullied at school. Amber suggests that they pretend to be a straight dating couple.

Coming out movies are now a dime a dozen. It would have been groundbreaking thirty years ago. Today, it's almost becoming cliché but these emotions are not cliché. It's really compelling. I love Amber. Eddie's fears are so powerful. I'm a big fan of Sharon Horgan and didn't know that she's in this. She does some good work. While I do give extra marks for originality, I never take away points for doing an old story. Quite frankly, some would say that it's all been before and it's a question of whether it's done well. This is done very well.