Trouble with Sex

Trouble with Sex is a 2005 Irish drama film set in Dublin and co-written by Catriona McGowan and Fintan Connolly (directed by Connolly). It stars Aidan Gillen and Renée Weldon, who won an Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance.

Plot
Dublin. Michelle Kelly (Renée Weldon) is an ambitious, successful lawyer. Her relationship with her doctor boyfriend Ivan (Declan Conlon) is on the rocks. Her mother Rosie (Susan Fitzgerald) has succumbed to premature dementia and lives in a home. Michelle visits her regularly.

Conor Flynn (Aidan Gillen) manages a quiet, traditional pub in the city, owned by his father. Conor takes care of the Old Man (Eamon Morrissey), a hardened drinker (who is actually his father). He has no girlfriend and has withdrawn somewhat from life. Joe (Gerard Mannix Flynn), a barman who has been there since his father's time works alongside him running the pub, Flynn's.

After a furious row with Ivan at a party (sparked by Ivan's clear interest in the sexy Eva, played by Irina Björklund, who is apparently not the first of his "distractions", and ending with him basically dumping Michelle), a visibly upset Michelle bursts into Flynn's pub after hours. Her friend Kathy (Sinead Keenan) comes to take her home but not before Conor's interest is piqued. The morning after, a chastened and hungover Michelle returns to the pub to collect her phone. There is a definite spark of attraction between them. Michelle begins to frequent the pub.

They go dancing with Joe and Kathy. She invites them all back to her apartment. Conor and Michelle kiss for the first time but they are interrupted. Conor asks her out on a date. They return to the apartment, alone this time. They kiss but unexpectedly he leaves. Michelle is intrigued. She asks him to accompany her to a dinner with her colleagues. Conor invites them all back to a music session in the pub. Michelle gets up and belts out a song. They go back to her apartment where they have sex for the first time. They become lovers and have sex at every opportunity. Their affair intensifies.

Ivan turns up at Michelle's apartment and they argue. He leaves but there is clearly still unfinished business between them. Michelle takes Conor away for the weekend to the country. They have an idyllic time together. On their last night Conor confesses that he is falling in love with her. Michelle is taken aback and urges caution. They return to the city.

Back in the city things start to normalise. Michelle is promoted and buys herself a sports car. The differences in their lives become more apparent. Conor suspects her feelings for him are cooling. After she stands him up they have a furious row. Things are said. Emotions spill over and she walks out.

They make up. After a night out they return to the apartment. They are interrupted by the arrival of Ivan, who lets himself into the apartment with his own set of keys, which he had earlier refused to give back. A serious argument develops. Ivan is forced to leave. As Michelle hadn't told Conor anything about Ivan he is angry and confused. Sensing betrayal, Conor freaks out and storms off. Michelle is upset.

Just as Michelle had started to really fall for him, Conor retreats. Hurt and angry, he rejects her when she comes to the pub to apologise. Their affair ends. Conor's father dies. He decides to sell up. Life is moving on for them both. They pass each other on the street. Conor walks by Michelle, pointedly ignoring her. Then he turns back and calls to her. They embrace. Reunited.

Cast

 * Aidan Gillen as Conor Flynn, barman at "The Flynn"
 * Renée Weldon as Michelle Kelly, a lawyer
 * Gerard Mannix Flynn as Joe, also a barman at "The Flynn"
 * Eamon Morrissey as Old Man
 * Declan Conlon as Ivan
 * Susan Fitzgerald as Rosie, Michelle's mother
 * Sinead Keenan as Kathy, Michelle's friend
 * Darragh Kelly as Fred, Michelle's boss
 * Irina Björklund as Eva, Ivan's fling
 * Tomas O'Suilleabhain as Kelvin
 * Conor Lambert as Taximan

Reception
The film premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival on 19 February 2005. Tara Brady in Hot Press wrote "The film makes for sweet likeable drama and Renee Weldon is remarkable as a spiky, sensual, triple-vodka swilling anti-Bridget Jones. You go girl. Chardonnay and propriety be damned." Pat Gillett in Irish Star Sunday said that the film "is probably the most explicit Irish movie released with regard to the beast with two backs." Esther McCarthy in Sunday World called it a "provocative and entertaining movie about the modern dating game".

In his review for The Irish Times, Michael Dwyer said "in her first leading role, Weldon sparkles with screen presence, belts out a fine version of Crowded House's "Fall at Your Feet", and comfortably holds her own with the subtly expressive Gillen, a Tony nominee on Broadway and one of Ireland's finest actors. Connolly propels the narrative with the keen sense of pacing and atmosphere he brought to Flick."

In an article in The Sunday Times subtitled Irish Film Grows Up, Gerry McCarthy concludes "Flawed, though it is, Trouble With Sex is proof that a film can be commercially viable without being loud or juvenile. Cinema, driven by special effects, has moved away from naturalism. Connolly shows that catching a reflection of contemporary life remains a valid aspiration for a film-maker. The mirror may be clouded in places, but we still need to see our reflection from time to time."

Awards
Renée Weldon won the Best Actress in a Leading Role for Trouble With Sex at the 2005 Irish Film & Television Awards. The film was nominated in 8 categories, including Best Irish Film, Best Director, Best Director of Photography, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design and Best Editing.

Release
The film received a domestic theatrical release opening in cinemas on 6 May 2005.

Home media
Xtra-vision produced the Region 2 DVD that came out in September 2005. Arkles Entertainment released a further Region 2 DVD in August 2009.