Brace

Slicker than your average short, Brace's depiction of a small corner of London's LGBT scene manages to combine humour, pathos and an unflinching look at the violence and prejudiced still faced by many communities.

Telling the story of scene newcomer Adam's encounter and nascent relationship with Rocky, Brace crams a lot of thoughtful material into its 30 minute runtime. Dealing with acceptance, rejection, prejudice and deception, the short depicts the complex world of queer identity with a sure-footed skill which belies the writer's relative inexperience; produced with cinematography far better than what one would ordinarily expect from a similar-budgeted production, Brace is a hard-hitting piece of cinema which punches well above its weight.

A film about a community. surprising for its deep honesty. for the precise portraits. for the way to present ordinary aspects of a life style. seductive for performances. short, one of useful films. for discover, understand, accept. not only a slice of near reality and its people. but a perspective about life. and freedom.

good performances. the right story. and London. different.

BRACE is a touch look at the all-too-real world still confronting LBGTs and their extended circle of friends and family. Writer, producer, actor Jake Graf and co-directors Sophy H and Alicya Eyo have tackled the uncomfortable reality that despite legal protection, true acceptance is still a long way off.

Brilliant tech work (shot in 5 days!) and layered characters bring the fear and longing of self-acceptance, new love and the frightening exposure to violence to the screen but (thankfully) does not opt for the happy ending.

This is must-see viewing for every school programme and outreach service.