The Drummer and the Keeper

I watched this with my son who has Asperger's. He loved it and felt that while characteristics needed to be exaggerated the film got it right. He connected with the characters on so my levels and we laughed and cried together while watching. My adpie boy feels thus should be compulsory viewing for all secondary school children. A wonderful, fun movie

We saw this movie at the Capitol Irish Film Festival sponsored by Solas Nua and the American Film Institute. The friendship which is at the core of this film---between a rock drummer with bi-polar and a young man with Aspergers--who meet up on the football field (soccer, in the U.S.)---is as unlikely as it is life-changing. I couldn't help but be reminded of a long ago children's picture book by Barbara Cooney, called "Miss Rumphius" in which the title character talked about we all must do something to make the world a more beautiful place. Nick Kelly has done that with this film.

I just love everything about this movie. Couldn't fault it. The story is so unique and it has been treated with such care and respect. Acting is brilliant with great soundtrack and directing. What is it about these Irish movies? Begosh and begorrah, they're a joy to watch.

This movie kept me spellbound, a difficult feat (believe me). Both of the main characters, one with bipolar and the other with Asperger's, were entirely credible, amazingly so, as was the (rocky) development of their friendship. Heartwarming, yes, but painful at times also. Good music too. But this is an Irish production and the accents are sometimes difficult to follow. While I stuck with it (and am very glad I did so), it would have been a relief to be able to turn on subtitles!

I had the pleasure of seeing this wonderful movie at it's very first public screening at the Galway Film Festival and I was blown away. It's so captivating, funny, real, true to life with an emotional build in it that you cannot fail to connect with & be drawn into . The relationship between Gabriel & Christopher is so engrossing as on their own, they struggle to navigate their very different worlds but find a way to cope & move forward once their worlds cross paths & their friendship (with all its ups & downs) takes centre stage.

I have to also mention the music & how powerful it was throughout the movie. It was never overbearing but always there enhancing the feelings that maybe sometimes the characters were struggling to convey themselves.

The writer & director, Nick Kelly did such an amazing job with this. When I watched it on the big screen that evening, I could not believe it was his debut feature film. There are surely great things on the horizon for Nick as a creative force in the film industry. The prolonged & emotional standing ovation the movie got after that debut screening was something I had never witnessed or been a part of before & will not forget soon.

I really could not recommend this film more. Go and watch it, you won't regret it.