Dating Amber (2020)

This overlooked, light hearted film set in 1995 is about two closeted Irish teenagers, Eddie and Amber. Tired of the homophobic jibes they have to endure, they conjure up a plan to pretend to be a straight couple. While initially this eases the pressures on them and also means they are meeting familial expectations it leads to other more complex problems. David Freyne’s delightful film turns what could be a serious topic into something altogether more comedic with some pin sharp observations and two characters whom the viewer soon gets to like. In a way it’s a romcom without the `rom` as the duo’s pretence leads to each of them discovering more about themselves. The film tries not to follow the cinematic romcom rules too closely enjoying the disparity between the fake relationship Eddie and Amber project and their real relationship. Amber is a lot more confident in her sexuality even if she is not publicly acknowledging it whereas Eddie cannot even say the word “gay” and has long over…