"Breakfast on Pluto", a Golden Globe 2006 nominated film about an Irish orphan who becomes a transvestite searches for his birth mother. Set amidst the backdrop of Ireland and London in the 60's and 70's and the IRA bombings. Director also did "The Crying Game". I found the film very engrossing and quirky since I'm into art-house films. However, the adoptee's anguish during his search for his birth mother, as he encounters abuse and hardship along his journey, seemed rather unreal. But then again, the director said he had thought of the world of Voltaire's "Candide" when he did the script, hence, the rather bizarre, tragic yet darkly comical tone to the film.
I would not recommend this film for those who are grappling with their own adoption-related anguish - the scene of the magician's performance was particularly gruelling, even gut-wrenching. I just saw this film in Taiwan (Jan. 2007) and the theatre was practically full-house. The audience roared with laughter in some of the scenes, apparently this was more to do with the Taiwanese translations of Irish slang and humour.
Rotten Tomatoes review:
Breakfast on Pluto
Australian Broadcasting Corporation review:
At the Movies: Breakfast on Pluto
IMDb review:
Breakfast on Pluto (2005)