Breakfast on Pluto (2005) review

Director : Neil Jordan: 135 minutes

Hello cinema lovers. Today's review is timely as we approach International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31st. Neil Jordan's (The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire) Breakfast on Pluto is an honest and, at times, disturbing movie.

Taking place during the republican troubles in 1970s Ireland and England. This film tells the tale of Patrick "Kitten" Braden. Kitten is abandoned at birth and raised by a cold foster mother in a small Irish town. Overcoming a painful childhood, the determined Kitten fights to find her place in the world.

Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders) as Kitten sets the film's tone from the very first scene. Kitten is portrayed as a fearless individual. Kitten's voice is whispy and delicate, an interesting choice by Murphy that takes some getting used to. Kitten also feels like a fabulous but grounded character. That is a big ask for any actor to pull off, But Murphy delivers a confident performance. A cisgender actor wouldn't be cast in this role in 2026, but allowing that the movie that was released in 2005, it's a serious achievement.

It is interesting to note that in a movie about a trans woman, Kitten's identity is only briefly touched upon. There are few mentions about pronouns or identity here. Kitten is just Kitten; she knows exactly who she is, even if the world struggles to understand her. The film was made in 2005 and was adapted from Pat McCabe's 1998 novel. That shows slightly in its language. However, Jordan's handling of the subject matter was ahead of its time. Kittens' TNBI identity is not shown in a fussy manner.

The plot follows Kittens' life back and forth from Ireland to England in a series of adventures. She encounters a glam rock band and the IRA in Ireland. She meets Wombles, prostitutes and a magician in London. There are violent scenes with the British police. Kitten is also searching for her biological mother during all of this. That's a lot of plot for two hours of cinema.

The supporting cast is excellent. Liam Neeson is Father Liam, a local priest who shares a connection with Kitten. Brendan Gleeson has a memorable but small role as Kitten's furious co-worker. Bryan Ferry appears as a minor but shocking character. Stephen Rea, Ruth Negga and Laurence Kinlan round out a strong cast.

The film depicts the Irish troubles with care. Kitten's childhood friend is accidentally killed by a car bomb. An IRA bomb destroys a pub, kitten is spared, but she's surrounded by the dead. The following police scenes are brutal and a reminder of how some of the Irish were treated in custody in 1970s England. The film also looks wonderful, the wet London streets, rural Irish towns and the fashions of the early 70s. The soundtrack is excellent, full of popular songs from that era that Jordan uses to great effect.

The film also has its quiet moments. In one scene, Kitten runs into her young half-brother. She notices her long-absent mother from a distance and chooses not to reveal her true self. She then wishes her absent family well. This is a sad moment showing kittens loss, but also her growth as a person.

Breakfast on Pluto is not just a film about being trans or gender divergant. It is a film about trying to find your place in a world that doesn't appreciate you. Cillian Murphy gives one of the best performances of his career. A decade later, movies such as Tangerine (2015) would feature trans actors in leading roles, but this movie is an important step towards that destination. It's a special film that deserves to be seen.

Breakfast on Pluto is available to stream on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.