Film
Handsome Devil
A tender Irish boarding-school drama about an outsider musician and his charismatic rugby-star roommate finding unexpected kinship. It's funny without being mean, moving without sentiment-dumping, and genuinely interested in how two very different boys come to understand each other. For anyone who's ever felt like they didn't fit, or watched someone else's world from the outside.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you like coming-of-age stories where the warmth comes from sharp, affectionate banter between two boys who are wildly different and slowly learning to respect each other.
Skip it if you want a tightly plotted drama; this one wanders through school life, sport and music in a loose, episodic way and leans on its characters more than on momentum.
What it asks of you: Ninety-five minutes of easygoing, mostly light viewing that shifts into heavier emotional territory now and then, with little to puzzle out and plenty of room to simply sit back.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The Half of It2020
A smart, funny story about an introverted student helping someone woo their crush, then discovering their own feelings. Shares the same gentle intelligence about outsiders finding connection through unlikely friendships.
But Moves slowly and relies heavily on internal emotion rather than external plot. Some may find it slight or overly precious.
The Edge of Seventeen2016
Hazel Grace's chaos mirrors Ned's desperation to be understood, but with more acerbic humour. A genuinely funny story about feeling wrong in your own skin, with a brilliant lead performance.
But The protagonist is deliberately abrasive and self-destructive. Her voice is broad comedy; if that doesn't land, the whole film feels thin.
Heartstopper2022
A school story about two boys and the space where friendship becomes something else. It's warm, funny, and treats first love with real tenderness rather than melodrama.
But The brightness and optimism may feel saccharine if you prefer your emotions messier or more complicated. Some find it almost aggressively wholesome.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Handsome Devil
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Return of Tanya Tucker Featuring Brandi Carlile2022
Both are about outsiders refusing to be small. Tanya Tucker spent decades dismissed and marginalised; Ned spends two hours refusing to apologise for who he is. Same spirit, opposite medium.
A documentary about Tanya Tucker's comeback, but it's really about what it means to live outside society's expectations and reclaim your own narrative. Country music, yes, but the emotional architecture mirrors Ned's entire journey.
But It's a documentary. If you're not interested in country music or curious about a musician's life, the form itself may alienate you.
More like this (7)
Dead Poets Society1989
The template for 'inspiring teacher in rigid institution.' Beautifully shot, genuinely moving, and understands why kids yearn to break free from expectation.
But Dated in how it frames rebellion. Some of its sentimentality curdles with age, and the ending is darker than the film's tone prepares you for.
My Brother Tom2001
An Irish drama about two brothers rebuilding their relationship after years of distance and misunderstanding. Quietly devastating, with real warmth beneath the hurt.
But Very small in scale, slow-paced, and offers no grand catharsis. If you need narrative momentum, this will feel slight.
The Breakfast Club1985
The other great 'five people from different worlds stuck together' film. Funny, moving, and genuinely interested in why we judge each other before we know each other.
But Feels period now—the fashion, the soundtrack, some of the social attitudes. The climax is more earnest than earned.
Sing Street2016
A Dublin school story about finding your tribe through music. Joyful and stylish, with real affection for outsiders and dreamers.
But Relentlessly upbeat and romantic. The fantasy elements are broad; cynics may find it hard to buy into.
Alex Strangelove2018
A teen navigating identity and first love with humour and honesty. Funny, smart, and refuses to treat queerness as tragedy.
But The tone is very light comedy. If you want real stakes or deeper emotion, it stays cheerfully at the surface.
Moonlight2016
Three chapters of a young man's life learning who he is despite the world telling him who to be. Visually gorgeous and emotionally precise.
But Demands patience and emotional work from the viewer. Some find it too slow or too withholding, preferring more explicit storytelling.
Lantana2001
Both understand that connection between people is fragile and precious precisely because misunderstanding is so easy. But where Handsome Devil finds light, Lantana suggests we're often too late.
An Australian ensemble piece where seemingly separate lives intersect through therapy and murder. It shares Handsome Devil's interest in how people reveal themselves to each other, but it's darker, more tragic, and structured like a puzzle.
But Bleak and slow-moving, with no catharsis. If you're looking for hope or resolution, this ends in ambiguity and pain. Genuinely depressing.
People
Cast
Fionn O'SheaNed Roche
Nicholas GalitzineConor Masters
Andrew ScottDan Sherry
Ardal O'HanlonDonal Roche
Amy HubermanNatalie Roche
Ruairí O'ConnorWeasel
Michael McElhattonWalter Curly
Moe DunfordPascal O'Keeffe
Mark DohertyMr. Cunningham
Hugh O'ConorSex Instructor
Norma SheahanLindy Masters
Stephen HoganConor's Dad
Directing
- John ButlerDirector
Writing
- John ButlerWriter
Production
- Louise KielyCasting
- Rebecca O'FlanaganProducer
- Robert WalpoleProducer
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