MICHAEL (Steven Robertson) was born with cerebral palsy and has lived in Carrigmore Home for the Disabled for almost his entire life, under the watchful eye of the authoritarian head nurse (Brenda Fricker).

Abandoned by his lawyer father, Michael has learnt to cope with the cards that life has dealt him, contending with his physical disabilities through the help of a motorised wheelchair and boundless determination.

However, the young man is desperately lonely and he is frequently frustrated by the nurses, who can't always understand what he's saying because of his cerebral palsy.

A glimmer of hope arrives in the form of wheelchair-bound rebel Rory (James McAvoy), who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Rory can understand everything that Michael says and the two men strike up an unlikely friendship, fuelled by their shared desire to move out into rented accommodation, away from the strict day-to-day routine at Carrigmore (which proudly advertises itself as "a special home for special people").

Rory's carefree attitude towards people in authority immediately ruffles feathers at the home, and he actively encourages Michael to break the rules, including abandoning a charity fundraising drive to enjoy a few pints down the local pub.

After one failed attempt to charm the local authority into giving them a living allowance, Rory and Michael get their wish and they move into a ground floor flat on a nearby housing estate.

The two men employ Siobhan (Romola Garai) as their new full-time carer. She has no real experience or training but quickly takes to the role.

Unfortunately, the living arrangement creates unforeseen tension when Michael develops a crush on Siobhan.

Inside I'm Dancing is a delightful return to form for director Damien O'Donnell, who made his name with the smash hit comedy East Is East.

Working to Jeffrey Caine's bittersweet screenplay, he elicits wonderful performances from the two male leads, especially Robertson, whose portrayal of a young man with cerebral palsy often defies superlatives.

Garai is equally compelling and the relationship between the three central characters is nicely observed.

Humour is employed to good effect too, preventing the narrative from becoming too downbeat or mawkishly sentimental.

The film's key sermon - that the only thing that separates disabled and able-bodied people is prejudice - is delivered rather heavy-handedly, and artistic licence often overrides realism.

However, Inside I'm Dancing befittingly overcomes these impairments as a life-affirming tale of the enduring power of friendship.

See it at Odeon