Seen at the San Francisco International Film Festival: “Kisses”

What is it? Irish Huckleberry Finn about a pre-teen boy and girl (next store neighbors) who run away from their crappy North Dublin housing project and hide out in the big city, along the banks of the Liffey.

How was it? Sweat, watchable, pleasant. Feels like a lesser known John Cheever short story or perhaps just a right-out-of-film-school project, even though its the director's third project. Acting is hardly what you you'd call natural (more like National-College first-year-student natural) but the cinematography is smooth and elegiac, the script sure and efficient. Written and directed by the same man, one Lance Daly. Picked up for distribution by Oscilloscope Pictures, The Beastie Boys production outfit.

Should I see it? Yes, but don't go out of your way. Would make for a great matinee, a 3:15 PM palette cleanser between a noon and 5 PM screening.

Kisses is playing Mon. April 27th, Tues, April 28, and Thurs. April 30, all at the Sundance Kabuki in San Francisco.

• Official Site.

• Category: Cinematically Speaking...