Seitenspiel

In a south London gay rugby club, the team has managed to reach respectability, and the owner persuaded to form a developmental "B" team. Mark, a star on the B team, meets Warren from the A team, who is on injury rehab. Warren seduces Mark, and they have a continuing affair, despite the fact that both have boyfriends, and a continuing relationship is breaking the rules of open relationship.

While Mark's rich boyfriend is often away on business, Warren's boyfriend is also a member of the A team. Also, a member of the B team is interested in at least "friending" Mark. But as the affair continues, Mark and Warren get ever more bold.

My chief complaint about this film is that there is too much rugby. Too many scenes of training, post-game pub events, and dance halls / parties. I suppose it is a rugby film first, and the relationship is somewhat secondary.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: I don't generally enjoy watching gay movies - for no other reason apart from the fact I find them clichéd and predictable. The majority of gay-themed movies are either too slapstick, or too tragic for my liking. Furthermore, I know nothing about rugby and it doesn't interest me in the least.

So why then did I decide to watch 'In from the side'? Well, that poster! There's just something so alluring about two macho, bearded hunks dressed in rugby attire holding each other whilst looking deeply into one another's eyes. I'm sorry, but that sold it to me! I wanted to see these guys in each others arms in a sensual manner. And in that regard, the film didn't disappoint.

Mark (Alexander Lincoln) and Warren (Alexander King) both play for a gay rugby club. After a night in a club, they sleep together, and I thought 'wow, they look good together'. But then we learn both are actually involved. Mark is in an 'open' relationship with Richard on the condition he doesn't sleep with the same guy twice, and Warren is in an 'unhappy' relationship with John. But the mere fact these two were involved diminished every bit of romance (for me), because I knew someone was bound to get hurt in the process.

At first I also didn't believe there to be chemistry between Mark and Warren, as they were disagreeing on almost everything most of the times - apart from the times they were having sex off course. But as the film developed they grew on me (figuratively, off course; pity!), and I really enjoyed them being together. There were a few truly beautiful and magical moments between them, especially when they went to visit Mark's parents. I absolutely adored his parents!

The performances are excellent, and I enjoyed every single character. The photography was also stunning. In general, this is a very good gay-themed movie with a compelling story and well-developed characters, highlighted off course by the two main actors, who were absolutely brilliant in their respective roles. Yes, it might not turn out the way you want it to, but this is far more realistic. 'In from the side' definitely is one of the better movies out there in the genre.

I was absolutely horrified to see people here comparing this film with the horrendously boring and irrelevant "Weekend" and claiming that this film based on a rugby club and two of its members suffered in comparison. Where "Weekend" was an actionless dirge about nothing, "In from the side" explored much more and did it in the context of a group of gay guys taking on the hettie world on their own terms and winning.

During the film the clandestine affair between two of the players explored themes of infidelity and stagnation. Both men were in stagnant relationships, Mark with a rich guy whose fabulous flat he was staying in for free and Warren with another rugger bugger who'd helped him out in his life so he felt obliged to him.

Which horny young guys wouldn't have had an explosive affair with each other after realising their attraction to each other in these circumstances? I've been guilty of lustful straying off the straight and narrow so I can fully understand the physical pull these two guys had.

The film explored sensibly that, in the end, this is what the two lovers had - a huge physical attraction to each other and no more. Mark realised this first and Warren was forced to accept it.

The cinematography of the film was excellent, especially in the match scenes which looked real. Characterisation of the minor players was less finely drawn but good enough for support.

I saw a version that was 120 minutes long. Others stated that what they saw was nearly three hours. I have to agree that three hours would have been far too extended but the 120 minutes was just right. I was dying for a cuppa but refused to get up out of my seat while the film was playing.

For me, this is a definite recommend.

What to say about this movie..hmm Just the thought of having gay only rugby team sounds amazing to me and it's nice that we have a movie like that.

Mark and Warren have a secret relationship even thou both have boyfriends. This movie is a nice story about adventure, and secret desire. About this one step that people make to feel exited and then they are playing on the edge not wanting to go all the way. I think Warren was stupid and I don't understand why he didn't stood up for Mat at New Year party. What I don't understand is why Warren's boyfriend never left him because he cheated. This was just left for our imagination to think that they had a little fight or not? Overall it's a nice movie.

British gay romance drama. Two members of a gay rugby team--Mark (Alexander Lincoln) and Warren (Alexander King)--become attracted to each other and begin to fall in love. The problem is they both already have partners. However they have trouble fighting their attraction to each other.

At 134 minutes it's way too long and there's nothing new or ground-breaking here but it still worked for me. The acting is excellent by the two leads and there's LOTS of gay kissing scenes. The one sex scene we see is erotic but not explicit. Also (for once) this is a gay love story that does not have a tragic ending. It's bittersweet and a little sad (I admit I was crying) but hopeful. I applaud any gay film that doesn't end tragically. So no great shakes but I liked it.