Kisses

Kisses

Year: 2008

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: English

Director: Lance Daly

Drama

Two kids, Dylan and Kylie, run away from home on Christmas Day and spend a night of magic and terror on the streets of inner-city Dublin.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Kisses (2008)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Kisses (2008). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Gardiner Street, Dublin

Gardiner Street in Dublin hosts the squat that anchors Dylan and Kylie’s search, set against tight, lived-in urban streets. The area is shown as a place where neighbors and passers-by can offer clues, and where danger feels close at hand. A passing dredger on the river provides a brief escape and a reminder of the city’s constant movement.

🏙️ Urban streets 🌊 River edge 🏚️ Squat life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:21

Main Characters – Kisses (2008)

Meet the key characters of Kisses (2008), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dylan (Shane Curry)

A resourceful, impulsive boy who is kicked out of his home and must survive on the city streets. He acts quickly to protect Kylie, showing courage under pressure and a knack for improvisation, such as using Heelys to keep pace during a chase.

🧒 Teen 💪 Courage 🗺️ Street-smart

Kylie (Kelly O'Neill)

A streetwise girl who resists going home after a traumatic family situation. She is protective of Dylan, resourceful, and willing to take risks to escape danger, even at the cost of her own safety.

👧 Youth 🧭 Resourceful 💞 Loyal

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:21

Major Themes – Kisses (2008)

Explore the central themes of Kisses (2008), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌱 Coming of Age

The film follows two youths forced to grow up quickly as they navigate danger, hunger, and uncertainty. They learn to rely on each other more than adults and take responsibility for their own safety. The story tracks their gradual shift from childlike fears toward a more mature, self-reliant stance.

🧭 Survival

Survival is the constant backdrop as Dylan and Kylie wander the streets, seek shelter, and improvise with whatever resources they can find. They ride a passing dredger and sleep in makeshift boxes, demonstrating resilience in the face of poverty and threat. Every decision is a test of their ability to stay ahead of danger.

💔 Abuse & Trust

Kylie’s backstory includes a traumatic abuse by her uncle, shaping how she negotiates trust and safety. The pair must decide whether to reveal painful truths or protect each other through silence. The film uses their vulnerability to highlight the costs of hiding violence and the healing power of solidarity.

💞 Friendship & Romance

A deepening bond forms between Dylan and Kylie as they support each other, offering tenderness amid chaos. Their kiss marks a hopeful moment that contrasts with their grim surroundings. The relationship becomes a beacon of possibility in a city that seems to push them apart.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:21

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Urban Survival Stories for Youth like Kisses

Children and teens face a night of danger and fleeting magic on the harsh city streets.Find movies like Kisses that follow children and teenagers on a single night of peril and discovery in the city. These films share a raw, intense feel and focus on themes of running away, street danger, and desperate survival. If you liked the anxious, fast-paced journey in Kisses, explore this thread.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear, often fast-paced escape-and-survival structure. Young characters, typically fleeing abuse or neglect, are propelled through a series of dangerous encounters in a single night or short timeframe. The journey is marked by escalating threats, brief respites of beauty or human connection, and a conclusion that is rarely a simple victory.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here by their shared focus on a youthful perspective of urban danger, a compressed timeline that creates high tension, and a gritty, realistic tone. They connect through the emotional core of vulnerable characters fighting to survive against overwhelming odds in a hostile environment.

Movies About Escaping Child Abuse like Kisses

Young characters flee abusive homes, finding fleeting solace but no easy happy endings.Discover films similar to Kisses that deal with children fleeing abuse and dysfunctional families. These dramas are heavy, dark, and feature a bittersweet ending where safety is uncertain. If you were moved by the emotional weight and disturbing themes in Kisses, this thread is for you.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern begins with a catalyst of extreme domestic danger, forcing the child protagonists to run. Their journey is as much an emotional awakening as a physical flight, often centered on a powerful, nascent bond with a fellow escapee. The ending typically sees them returning to or confronting their situation, having grown but not fully freed, resulting in a poignant, bittersweet feel.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their unflinching focus on child abuse as a central theme, the specific character arc of escape and limited resolution, and a consistently heavy emotional weight. The shared tone is dark yet punctuated by tenderness, leading to an ending that is more about survival than triumph.

Unlock the Full Story of Kisses

Don't stop at just watching — explore Kisses in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Kisses is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Kisses Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Kisses, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Kisses Summary

Kisses Timeline

Track the full timeline of Kisses with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Kisses Timeline

Kisses Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Kisses that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Kisses Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Kisses

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Kisses: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Kisses

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Discover movies like Kisses that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.