Dinner of Pork Loin and Breakfast on Pluto

My friends of the glorious MNMC gathered for the first time in the New Year. This time with a rented movie; because - with the New Year came a new member. A baby. And those stinky things aren’t allowed in movie theaters. We rented “Breakfast on Pluto”; a movie directed by Neil Jordan (Crying Game) based on a Novel by Pat McCabe. And we eat pork loin, an obvious pairing…

"I love to talk about nothing. It's the only thing I know anything about." (Oscar Wilde)

One of two chirping birds says in subtitles to another bird as they sit on the porch of church on freshly delivered milk bottles in the opening scene of the movie. As I am sitting in a comfy-your-butt-sinks-way-down chair, really full and pretty much ready for bed (my mood not boding well for the movie already)– my friend and MNMC’s current host gripes “I don’t know how I feel about these narrating birds”. Annie (his baby mama and our other host) moans as well. Even their newborn squawks in agreement – as if his three months of life has taught him anything about a good movie.

“This sucks, I’m full” I say, always willing to join in and gripe about something. Then something strange happened. I actually started paying attention. The movie beckoned to me and I answered. (ok no beckoning really happened but it got good)

Cillian Murphy’s character Patrick Braden (or Patricia Kitten Brady) forced me to care about his story, his (or her) life, even through his own apathy. “Oh! Serious, Serious. Serious!” Patty it seems would prefer things to remain NOT-so-serious. This proud, unflinching transvestite, brave and unafraid person (who I will refer to as a SHE or a HER from now on)– born in Ireland, and traveled England in the violent early 70’s. Although Patty is VICTIMIZED several times throughout the story she never surrenders to it. Eleanor Roosevelt once said “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” (Thank you Six Feet Under) But truthfully, this character embodies that statement. Humiliation after hateful humiliation I cannot recall a moment When Patty Kitten Brady puts her head down in shame.

The way this story is told is fresh and extremely visually stimulating. Each titled “chapter” (or scene) was short enough for those of us with minimal attention spans (um, like me), but told the story in a fulfilling way as well. Each scene began with the chapter title written in sloppy hand over a still frame, “My tights are in Ribbons” (sounds cute but is actually quite bloody) and “When I was In Over My Head.” I hardly noticed the movie was over two hours long, hardly.

Not only was the movie beautiful to look at, with bright colors and unusual camera angles but it was beautiful to listen to as well. At one point Sean stretched out (by now, enjoying the movie very much) and said “It is like Jordan (Niel Jordan, the director) hand picked the perfect song for each scene.”

The characters, although strange, were easy to relate to. And somehow, when I wasn’t looking I watched Patty Kitten travel to London, fall in love several times and fall victim time and time again to the violence of the time. The story telling was unlike anything else. The life of Patty was given to me. I was being spoon fed but I liked it. Not that the viewer does not need to be smart to understand the complexity of the story or the characters; but somehow this complicated story was told in such a simple way it was just easy to watch and enjoy.

We do not only learn about this ONE person and their unique identity “I am not a girl”- but we watch a human being who has been abandoned- recklessly trying find his mother. Or as Patty Kitten refers to her, “the Phantom Lady”.

Everyone gave Transamerica a standing ovation when it focused on the perspective of a transgendered person. But this movie not only tells the tale of identity but also about how war can touch a generation, and about what true love is and how important it is to be cared for. (AND A LOT MORE, ok?)

Cillian Murphy provided an even-handed performance that was not only eerily feminine but consistently believable. He managed to portray this wonderfully unusual person in such a familiar way that I felt like I had known Patty all my life. I kinda wanted to hang out with the Kitten, go dancing, whatevs. At the end of the movie Ryan (Ryanthegirl to you) sighed and said: “That was satisfying.” Not sure if she meant all the pork we ate or the movie itself, but I am pretty sure she meant Breakfast On Pluto.

Happy New Year MNMC!