Chicken (short film)
Encyclopedia
Chicken is a 2001 Irish short film directed by Barry Dignam
about the way adolescent males sometimes redirect their feelings of affection for each other into often violent or competitive activities such as games of chicken.
Mick (Darren Healy) and Kev (Niall O'Shea
) spend an evening near railroad tracks by the seaside where Mick teaches Kev how to "shotgun
" beer for reasons then unknown to the viewer. He observes that Kev is "a bit of a wuss" after he fails to replicate the proper shotgunning technique and calls for Kev to come sit close to him for a test of courage which involves stabbing a knife between outstretched fingers at an ever-faster rate. The game is usually played with one person's hand at a time and as a gesture of what may be seen as self-sacrifice, Mick puts his hand over Kev's in order to shield Kev's hand from the brunt of an injury should it occur.
When a train speeds by them, Mick accidentally cuts Kev and himself very slightly with the knife. They clasp each other's hands tightly and Mick, who suddenly seems very insecure and in need of affection is lovingly embraced by Kev, who perhaps has known all along why Mick brought him here.
The title of the short film is a double entendre
, since "chicken" is also a slang
term for a young homosexual.
The short won, among others, a Special Jury Award at the Newport International Film Festival
and an Audience Award at the Dublin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Barry Dignam
Barry Dignam is an Irish filmmaker. Some of his films are Chicken, Dream Kitchen, Stages, Bounce and A Ferret Called Mickey....
about the way adolescent males sometimes redirect their feelings of affection for each other into often violent or competitive activities such as games of chicken.
Mick (Darren Healy) and Kev (Niall O'Shea
Niall O'Shea
Niall O'Shea is a London born Gaelic football player who plays inter-county football with Dublin and his club football for St Judes. He won the 2007 O'Byrne Cup for Dublin against Laois at O'Connor Park in Offaly. The game finished on a scoreline of 1-18 to 2-13 against Laois...
) spend an evening near railroad tracks by the seaside where Mick teaches Kev how to "shotgun
Shotgunning
Shotgunning is a means of consuming a canned beverage, particularly beer, very quickly by punching a hole in the side of the can. With this method, it is possible to easily drink a canned beverage in under 10 seconds.. A related technique, strawpedoing, is used for containers not easily punctured...
" beer for reasons then unknown to the viewer. He observes that Kev is "a bit of a wuss" after he fails to replicate the proper shotgunning technique and calls for Kev to come sit close to him for a test of courage which involves stabbing a knife between outstretched fingers at an ever-faster rate. The game is usually played with one person's hand at a time and as a gesture of what may be seen as self-sacrifice, Mick puts his hand over Kev's in order to shield Kev's hand from the brunt of an injury should it occur.
When a train speeds by them, Mick accidentally cuts Kev and himself very slightly with the knife. They clasp each other's hands tightly and Mick, who suddenly seems very insecure and in need of affection is lovingly embraced by Kev, who perhaps has known all along why Mick brought him here.
The title of the short film is a double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
, since "chicken" is also a slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term for a young homosexual.
The short won, among others, a Special Jury Award at the Newport International Film Festival
Newport International Film Festival
Newport International Film Festival was an annual film festival in Newport, Rhode Island, established in 1998 .The Newport Film Festival was generally held the first week in June and featured various international films at several local cinemas...
and an Audience Award at the Dublin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
External links
- "Chicken" The full short film hosted on Channel Four. Available in low and high bandwidths.