Inside I'm Dancing

Inside I'm Dancing, also released under the title Rory O'Shea Was Here, is an 2004 Irish comedy-drama film directed by Damien O'Donnell and starring James McAvoy, Steven Robertson, Romola Garai, and Brenda Fricker. The film revolves around two disabled young men who pursue physical and emotional independence in direct defiance of "protective" institutional living and their society's prevailing standards and attitudes, especially pity.
The production was filmed in Dublin and Wicklow and involved production companies Working Title Films and StudioCanal with assistance from the Irish Film Board (Bord Scannán na hÉireann).
Plot
Michael Connolly is a 24-year-old with cerebral palsy who is a long-term resident of the Carrigmore Residential Home for the Disabled run by the formidable Eileen. His life, mundane and schedule-driven by the institution's authorities, is transformed when the maverick Rory O'Shea, who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, suddenly moves in. Michael is stunned to discover that fast talking Rory, prone to lewd and/or overt jokes at unpredictable intervals, and who can move only his right hand, can understand his almost unintelligible speech. Rory's dynamic and rebellious nature soon sparks a flame in Michael, introducing him to the wider world outside of Carrigmore.
On a day out in Dublin led by Carrigmore collecting for "the needs of the disabled", Rory leads Michael astray, sneaking off to a local pub with their donation bucket, charming a group of girls at a corner table at which sits Siobhán; later they see Siobhán again while traversing a neighbouring nightclub, which they get into only by Michael citing Irish and EU Disability Discrimination Law text to the bouncer.
Rory has meanwhile repeatedly failed in his application for the Independent Living Allowance; he is always denied that on the grounds of irresponsibility and poor judgement, but told to reapply in six months. Inspired by his example Michael applies for the allowance himself; with the help of Rory as his interpreter Michael gets the allowance but they struggle to find an apartment that is both wheelchair accessible and affordable. Rory convinces Michael to visit his estranged father who, out of guilt, gives them the money and property they need to set up on their own.
They interview for a care-giver with little success, but later they meet Siobhán working in a local supermarket, and try to convince her to take on the job. Despite not having any professional experience she reluctantly accepts. Seeing that Michael and Siobhán are platonically friendly to each other, Rory becomes jealous – culminating in a joyride with local kids in a stolen car, crashing it, subsequently getting briefly detained by the police.
Siobhán invites Rory and Michael along to a costume party; but after Siobhán rejects Michaels advances she decides to bring in Peter, a qualified Personal Assistant to replace herself. Michael is distraught over Siobhán's departure from their lives, and considering suicide; Rory finds him on the edge of the James Joyce Bridge. Michael jokingly complains the edge is too high for him to throw himself off, and Rory talks him out of it, reminding him he has a future and to enjoy it.
Later, Michael finds Rory in his bed struggling to breathe, and calls for an ambulance. His disease having progressed, Rory is given only a few days to live. Michael visits Siobhán and with her help goes to the review board on behalf of Rory to argue his case, another chance having come up after six months. The board initially refuse, restating the same arguments, however Michael responds that "the right must exist independently of its exercising" and as a gesture the board approve Rory's independent living allowance in principle – but before they can get to the hospital to tell Rory the news, he has already died.
Michael and Siobhan attend Rory's funeral. Michael hears in his mind Rory's words "Well, then, are we going out?" and after saying goodbye to Siobhan, Michael heads out on his own.
Cast
James McAvoy as Rory Gerard O'Shea, a rebellious young man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Steven Robertson as Michael Connolly, a 24-year-old long-term resident with cerebral palsy
Romola Garai as Siobhán, a young woman they employ as a caregiver
Brenda Fricker as Eileen, a domineering care worker at Michael's care home
Gerard McSorley as Fergus Connolly, Michael's father who abandoned him at birth
Tom Hickey as Con O'Shea, Rory's father
Alan King as Tommy
Ruth McCabe as Annie
Anna Healy as Alice
Deirdre O'Kane (cameo) as a caregiver applicant
Production
Writer Christian O'Reilly came up with the story after working with Martin Naughton, and Dermot Walsh, on a campaign for the Centre for Independent Living in Dublin.
Music
The film features Johnny Cash's cover version of "Hurt". Siobhan asks Rory "Were you born like this ... dodgy hair and shit taste in music?" and plays the Cash song for him.
"Beat for Two" – Elbow
"Frontier Psychiatrist" – The Avalanches
"Hurt" (Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails) – Johnny Cash
"Look of Love" – Dusty Springfield
"Easy" – Groove Armada
Critical response
Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 49% based on 69 reviews, with a rating average of 5.8 out of 10. The site's general consensus is that "The dramatic aspects of Rory O'Shea Was Here veer into mawkish, formulaic sentiment, which undercuts the characters' individuality."
Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score gives the film 59% based on 23 reviews.
Neil Smith, reviewing for the BBC, gave the film 4/5 stars but felt casting non-disabled actors undermined the film.
References
External links
official site, archived copy from 2006 provided by the Internet Archive
2004 films
2004 comedy-drama films
Irish comedy-drama films
British comedy-drama films
French comedy-drama films
English-language Irish films
English-language French films
Casting controversies in film
Films about people with cerebral palsy
Films set in Dublin (city)
Films shot in Ireland
Irish independent films
StudioCanal films
Working Title Films films
British independent films
French independent films
Films directed by Damien O'Donnell
Films scored by David Julyan
Films with screenplays by Jeffrey Caine
2004 independent films
2000s English-language films
2000s British films
2000s French films
Films about disability