A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

One of the funniest pieces of television ever produced was the episode of I'M ALAN PARTRIDGE where the title character is networking with a couple of Irish TV producers and Patridge is convinced they're members of the IRA because that's what Ireland is famous for along with every stereotype of the Emerald Isle . Watching BETWEEN THE CANALS one gets the impression it was directed by Alan Partridge Should I be honest or should I be politically correct ? Well I am the sort of guy who says things like "I didn't recognise you with your clothes on" to a female colleague at work only to find her boyfriend is sitting just outside of earshot in her car so I'll just revert to type You see this is very small budget film making and is no doubt a labour of love and I don't want to hurt anyones feelings so if you worked on this film and don't like honesty then stop reading at this point please From the opening titles every cliché is dug up quicker than an Irish potato field . Michael Collins , black and tans , slums etc etc appear in a photo montage and that gives a hint we're going to be watching the oxymoron of "stereotypical realism" . Stereotypical in that all Dubliners are likable rascals who enjoy a drink interspersed with the occasional gangland murder and realism in that the acting style is mainly down to adlibbing by people who couldn't act their way out of a wet paper bag . This technique never really works and is a distraction . Somewhat fortunate then that there's little in the way of substance to distract this audience member from what's happening on screen . The story is very weak and with the exception of the F and C words I couldn't make out a word that was being spoken Apologies if I've hurt any feelings with my brutal honesty but if it's any consolation I look forward to a sequel which will no doubt be called MONKEY TENNIS

As a Dubliner living away from home now for over 20 years, it is a great joy to watch such a realistic film of what its really like living in inner city Dublin and what the people are like with all the Irish talk, great characters.To the director and others involved in the movie I say well done and thanks for this gift. Foreigners wont get it and Irish living at home wont appreciate its realism as they are used to it. Only when you leave home, and miss it, can you appreciate just how great this film is. It had me laughing many times and would recommend it to anyone that wants to see real Dublin

I Love Irish films and TV shows but my good this is awful, the acting is so bad Fair City looks like the Sopranos and the Script has no meaning, I am sorry but that is 88mins of my life i will never get back. I would love to say something positive maybe Peter Coonan (Fran in Love/Hate) is not the worst and plays a really bad role quiet well. sorry guys just not worth watching. with the success of love/hate its a good subject idea but i just think the Script is very weak, the acting is so below par its cringe to watch it has not context and really no plot at all. Hopefully who ever the director was he can try again and come up with a successful movie but i am sorry to say this is a complete flop.

Well i've been a big contributor to the IMDb forum for a few years now and finally i get to comment on a film directed by my brother Mark.I may be a little biased but Mark has done a great job here, it's very gritty and realistic - it makes the commercial 'gangster' films like the general and intermission seem real artificial because you can tell with those films that they are actors.Mark used almost all non-actors who lived in those areas of the inner city we rarely see on the big screen. Mark's film entered the IFI cinema in Dublin two days ago and it will run for another 5 days.It will then be decided if it moves to the multiplexes. Check it out, it's great.