David Gleeson
Grande Bretagne 2003 35mm 89min. english o.v.

Cowboys and Angels is a warm, engaging story of friendship and self-discovery that can best be described as Queer Eye for the Irish Guy. Set in Limerick, the story follows 20 year-old Shane, a shy, nerdy civil servant who is tenuously hanging on to his childhood dream of becoming an artist. When he moves into his first apartment, he ends up sharing the flat with Vincent, an ultra-hip gay fashion design student who, on the surface, appears to be everything Shane wants for himself. Poles apart in almost every way, Vincent takes Shane under his wing and offers to give him a complete style makeover. Ultimately, his makeover is more than skin deep – and the changes are not necessarily for the better. What follows is an oft-painful journey of self-discovery as Shane struggles to find himself and the courage to follow his dreams. Throughout Gleeson’s heartfelt and assured film, the relationship that develops between Shane and Vincent serves as the emotional core, drawing a rich portrait of two people whose mutual support and closeness transcends simple friendship. - SF