Weekend

Russell (Tom Cullen) is a cleaned up, well-mannered man, working as a lifeguard, who, after one night at a house party, is searching the streets looking for someone to talk to and hook up with. He ventures into a gay nightclub, and picks up the aspiring artist, Glen (Chris New), a man more comfortable and open about his homosexuality. Russell and Glen become surprisingly close and what was destined to be a simple one night stand evolves into one of the most meaningful and tremendously potent on-screen romances from independent cinema in a long time.

Andrew Haigh's Weekend is a delightfully different picture, about two gay men who take on a fondness for each other in the least conventional sense. They wind up equally understanding each other, taking each other for who they are, and become more open in their conversations than I'm sure lifelong friends have. To say how and why it happens is so subjective it's not even wholly explainable. Sometimes, a person catches you by surprise and, despite only knowing them for a short time, you can feel heavily sympathetic towards their problems and issues, begin to talk openly with one another about personal subjects, and, after a while, begin to become transgressive in your discussions, just talking about whatever you feel like. Perhaps it is just that other person's presence that makes each of them feel so comfortable and open. What Russell and Glen discuss over this forty-eight hour relationship probably hasn't even been vaguely brought up when talking with family.

Cullen and New are exceptionally perfect in their chemistry together. One of the most poignant scenes in the film comes a little after the hour mark, when they are discussing gay rights with each other. To discuss the treatment of gays in society and in the media is obligatory when dealing with a film focusing on a same-sex relationship, but being that Weekend is a British film, it has a welcomed take on the subject, showing us that passionate relationships with two people of the same gender exist all over the world. We learn Glen must board a train on Monday and from there on out, is Oregon-bound to take a two year long art course. It is quite possible that this adds to the rush of discussing as many topics as possible before the inevitable morning comes.

The crisp photography of the picture is to be commended as well. There are some evocative, crisp location and involving scenery shots scattered throughout the entire picture. Haigh's directorial effort is truly an astonishing work of indie-art, as it shows photography in not a pompous light, but as a background delight to the foreground extravaganza we are enduring. It is too complimented by some delightful framing, where it seems everything inside of the frame has some sort of true, bountiful significance.

Another talk of true satisfaction is when the Glen tells Russell to act as if he was his father and come out of the closet to him. It is at that moment, after the deed is done on Russell's part, Glen utters the most satisfying and beautiful line in the entire picture. To repeat it here is an act of criminal spoiling.

Weekend is a naturalistic and touching film, whether you're gay, straight, bisexual, or whatever orientation. This is a film that can give you relationship advice and life guidance no matter what you're orientation may be. It isn't an indulgent film bringing only a unique gay relationship to light and nothing more, and it isn't an ode to "coming out" and stockpiled clichés of "being different." It shows how the slightest, most unassuming interaction with a person, regardless of two days in length or six years, can have a truly provocative impact on you as a person. This is one of the wisest and least condescending independent films I've seen this year.

Starring: Tom Cullen and Greg New. Directed by: Andrew Haigh.

I watched this film after a friend highly recommended it. The gay film festivals and critics' awards and nominations it's been getting are much deserved.

Russell (Tom Cullen), a young gay man in Nottingham, UK, picks up Glen (Chris New) at a nightclub. They have a one-night stand but realize they share much more than animal attraction. They spend a weekend together trying to figure out whether or not they can turn this into something "concrete".

"Weekend" is part of the 'brief encounter' subgenre I am a big fan of. It's a 'talkie' for excellence; if you love films like "Lost In Translation", "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset", you'll probably be smitten by this as well. A naturalistic approach to filmmaking - especially to such a dialogue-driven narrative like this - is very hard to pull off; but writer/director/editor Andrew Haigh knows how to create sparks. Special kudos go to the excellent protagonists, Tom Cullen and Chris New, whose on-screen chemistry is palpable, moving, and simply a pleasure to watch. This is a weekend you shouldn't sleep through.

The IMDb summary of the film does it no justice whatsoever. This piece of art depicted the most genuine and sincere definition of love in any motion picture that I have seen. Besides the fact that the script was well-written, the actors carried the story to fruition in their slightest of gestures, glances, and articulations. You really fall in love with Glen and Russell and want them to be with each other. There are parts where you'll laugh, parts where you might tear up, and parts where you might wonder if you've ever felt what these characters feel for each other. There are some wonderful scenes cinematically as well. The ending is satisfying and resonant of real life, which is a nice change of pace when compared to other love stories. This is the movie that you should see, and I hope you will.

In "Weekend," a beautifully acted and written indie drama from writer/director (and editor) Andrew Haigh, two gay men fall heavily for each other over the course of a 2 or 3 day period, each getting at something in the other that no one before had managed to do. But this is not a "gay" movie, and people who stay away from it because they think it has a gay agenda, or that it has nothing to say to them, or who are simply uncomfortable with the sight of two men having sex, will deny themselves the pleasure of seeing a film with a universal message about what it's like to be lonely and the search for meaningful human connections that kind of loneliness motivates.

It's not that Haigh avoids addressing the complications of being gay in the present day. Part of what I admired about the film was that it put being gay, and the constant energy it takes on the part of gay men to either fight or ignore the ignorance and hostility they must constantly endure, in a context that anybody can understand. The film's central character, Russell (Tom Cullen), has been raised as a foster child in a "straight" environment. His foster brother knows he's gay and is accepting of it, but even at that, Russell's time with his brother and his brother's family only accentuates the desolate fact that the kind of "normal" happiness his brother enjoys (the solidarity of a strong marriage, children) is something that at best he will have to fight for or at worst will be denied altogether. The bitterness this harsh reality can create in gay men is illustrated in the character of Glen (Chris New), a crusader who believes happiness in marriage is a sham perpetrated by the straight community and that attempts at finding contentment and satisfaction in a life partner are akin to tilting at windmills.

Cullen and New deliver award-worthy performances, so it's a shame that this film's size and subject matter will deny it any kind of major awards attention. The film is actually breathtaking at moments, albeit in an unassuming way, in its frankness and its ability to capture perfectly in words ideas about the way our societies treat relationships, commitments and love that I had only half articulated to myself. It would be easy to believe that Haigh found two non-actors roaming the streets, asked them to star in a movie, gave them situations to play out without a script, and filmed the results. It's that authentic.

I hope people see this movie.

Grade: A

In reading several reviews posted about this outstanding film, I note several things:

*I'm sick to death of people complaining they cannot understand English people speaking English. Pay attention, they are completely understandable!

*This isn't a romantic comedy!

*If straight audiences are squeamish about a movie anyone can relate to--well tough!

A superior film about a sexual and then romantic period in two young men's lives, WEEKEND is a riveting and adult piece of filmmaking. Andrew Haigh's writing and direction is so well observed and detailed the viewer is left astounded at the simplicity of his vision and the skill of his masterly direction.

Tom Cullen and Chris New play Russell and Glen with utter conviction, all the more impressive in their love scenes, and in their moments of intimate touching because one of them is straight. This must have been nerve-wracking for both of them and yet they handle these scenes with restraint and with believable ardor.

I loved the scene where Russell is visiting his straight best friend and finally admits he is deeply shaken by Glen. His friend is perfectly happy and insistent to drive him to the railroad station.

The only scene that didn't completely work for me was their night of boozing and drugging. I just didn't see Russell indulging in cocaine and while I know some people think it makes the mind clear, but there are no real revelations during this long night. Reminded me of another long filmed sequence--that endless wedding reception in Rachel Getting Married. A real misstep.

The chemistry between Russell and Glen's characters goes a long way towards the film's excellence. There is nothing cute, or silly, or humiliating or just plain dumb between these two very likable men. The camera allows you to discover them and the movie is a real gem for it.