The Butcher Boy Synopsis - The Butcher Boy is set in a small town in Ireland in the 1950's and centres around Francie, a young boy growing up in a tough environment. With his father an alcoholic, and mother on the verge of madness, Francie and his best friend Joe retreat into a world of make believe and comic book escapades. But real life life is difficult to escape, and the upright and self righteous neighbours disapproval of Francie's family is a difficult thing to let go of. With Francie becoming even more erratic, Joe starts to step back from their friendship. Francie meanwhile, is seemingly on a collision course with all those who have wronged him.