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The opening title card of the film states that throughout production, research was undertaken in interviews with offenders who went through the Irish Prison Service’s Pathways programme. From the outset, there are no suspicions on whether or not young Michael McCrea (Dafhyd Flynn) from an inner city housing estate in Dublin will travel to the ‘inside’ as his house is raided by Gardaí shortly after agreeing to hold a bag of drugs for a friend. He has made a mistake. With no surprise, the quiet teenager is forced to say his goodbyes to Northern Irish grandfather (Lalor Roddy) and prepare for the most grown up chapter of his life to date: prison.
As the three month stint progresses we see Michael “toughen up” as becomes familiar with the system. It is not enough to keep your head down and without friends to support you you’re basically asking for trouble. Fellow prisoner, David (Moe Dunford) takes Michael under his wing after a yard bully sets his eyes on the nervous first-timer. As the film progresses the audience watches as Michael attempts to withstand further conflict which entail much more serious consequences.
Michael Inside offers a unique insight into prison life in Ireland and the reality of gangs both inside and outside the prison system. Director Frank Berry attempts to undertake an in depth investigation into the difficulties faced by young men from disadvantaged areas in Dublin. What results is a bleak, numbing realisation that their differences are marked from early on and they are perceived as “other” by the authorities. Falling into habits of anti-social behaviour seems effortless as favours turn into criminal offences and digging yourself deeper is inevitable. Even for someone reserved like Michael, escaping the scene is impossible.
An especially unnerving moment occurs in a conversation between Michael and David where Michael shares his plans and hopes for the future after leaving prison. He wants to do a PLC and get a job in social care to use his experiences to help others. David belittles his aspirations when he asks Michael who an employer would pick for a job, himself or somebody with no record? It is heartbreaking to witness Michael’s loss of faith in resolve but it is certainly foreseeable as threats to his grandfather whose problems are never ending since Michael’s incarceration, instigates a slow-burning anger.
Michael Inside is a slow-moving film and at times its pace of action completely falls flat. However, the drawn out nature of its protagonist’s internal conflicts work in humanizing the stereotype we so often hear about of the anti-social delinquent from a bad area. We are in a time of Irish film that is so focused on the sentimental coming of age narratives. Michael Inside is a refreshing, truthful reflection that targets a social group often overlooked.
