User reviews

Cinematography and acting: good

Music: too much it's distracting, often not even fitting the scene and overly dramatic

Script: that's where the film really lacks. Characters are not only unidimensional but not really likeable either. They are self centered and douchy. Their respective partners are non existant, except for being people they don't care about. Their decisions don't make sense with a number of clichés. We don't understand or feel why they are into each other, the only thing they do is have sex (we get it) and fight, there's no substance and the melo drama is forced... With this cast and cinematography it could have been much better. The one likeable and funny character is Pinky!

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.

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.

I have never watched a game of rugby in my life, but In from the Side kind of makes me want to take up a Sunday league...!

I am a sucker for a well done film that deals in betrayal/deceit/salacious affairs, so I found this an easy and enjoyable watch. However, it is the cinematography that really makes this a standout, which is why my score is so high. London is artistically captured, the city feels familiar yet also quite whimsical. The rugby matches are also very well shot, with one match in particular quite breathtakingly done.

I would perhaps give the film in terms of plot 7, but the cinematography a 9.

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.

I was very lucky to be at the second public screening of IN FROM THE SIDE at the BFI Flare Film Festival at BFI Southbank in London on Saturday. March 26th 2022. The world premiere was the night before.

I was blown away by this film. At first it seems like the film is about two gay men who have an affair, but there is so much more going on in this highly engaging film.

The film grabs your attention from the start and holds it throughout what is actually rather a long film, but it didn't feel a single moment was wasted. I found I was totally engaged with the story and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

The rugby scenes are so well filmed that you actually feel you are on the pitch, right in the thick of the action. You can feel every thump and the mud!

Having spent about a year as a beginner to rugby, training with an inclusive rugby team in London, the Kings Cross Steelers, I can vouch that all the scenes centred around the workings of the club and the scenes in the clubhouse after the matches, rang absolutely true.

The script is superb and there are some really funny lines in the film that are very well delivered by the very talented actors. The film also took me by surprise and got me choked up with emotion at many points, in the second half of the film. I almost burst into tears at a couple of scenes towards the end. I won't say which ones, you'll have to experience it for yourself!

The film also has many great moments of humour. The packed house at the screening were roaring with laughter at many points, which is a joy to experience at the cinema. Something you really miss out on, when watching a film at home.

The film was shown on a really big screen and this made the whole experience very immersive.

The film ends with a really funny scene which I won't spoil, but leaves the audience with a big smile on their face.

I was absolutely bowled over when the end credits started and there was some superb animation, which I really wasn't expecting. As the credits rolled, I could see that the film's director Matt Carter not only co-wrote the script, but was also the cinematographer and composed the music and sang the superb end theme song! He also did the animation sequence too and the special effects and probably lots of other jobs. What a hugely talented man. I predict a great future for him!

The audience response was rapturous, and I am not exaggerating. There was a whole lot of love for the film coming from the audience.

The whole cast and crew did a superb job. I've never seen a film like this before, where being a gay man was so well explored and from such a unique perspective.

I think this film will appeal to a very wide audience and may also show people that gay men come in all shapes and sizes and can't be easily fitted into standard stereotypes. We are just as diverse as everyone else and just trying to live life as best we can.

It's a really fun film. Please look out for it and enjoy!

Best wishes to everyone involved in the film.

At last a "man to man" film that didn't feature a cast of screaming Queens running all over the place in tight colourful clothing flapping their arms about. As the stereotype films would have you believe the "Gay" population behaves.

In fact this case revealed that man on man love can be quite like man/woman love. Nothing different or nothing setting them apart from anyone else. No underlying "look at me I a gay" (as if anyone cares)

This film is basically a love triangle (but more complicated) and the storyline really can be applied to same sex or straight couples - which is one of the reasons I liked it.

Yes adult life can be "complicated" from time to time - but this was a real story that can be applied to couples of any kind - as opposed to being overtly about "gay" behaviour. It was about a complicated love quadrangle/no matter what the sex of the couples.

At last!

Two hot hunks are having an affair... Production value is good, acting is also adequate... What could go wrong?

My problem with this feature is it is so much riddled with the sense of guilt about the whole affair and infidelity. Really? Gay guys in their 30's from London, living the age of Grindr and Prep... Would they be really so stuck up about meeting other guy than their own partner? Everybody live by their own value, but all the guys in this film seem to share the same weight of guilt. Meanwhile, out in reality, there are all sorts and forms of relationships going on. Because gays don't need to conform to the model of hetero marriage, it's really up to each individuals and couples what kind of relationship they want to have. And yet, this film is so much stuck up with one moralistic point of view - 'an affair is exciting, but it can't end well'.

So where do you find your happiness? From the gay brotherhood, of course! From the 'brothers' who were so quick to judge and expose your affair... But everything's fine because they've just won the terribly cliche and dramatic last game.

I wish gay relationship dramas can come up to date and inspire something new.

I was warned this wasn't great but I wasn't expecting it to be as bad as it was. The script is so appaling I am perplexed how it ever got commissioned. All of the characters are woefully underwritten or developed with little though given to their actions or decisions. Finally the finished product desperately needs half hour removing from its laborious running time. The lead does a good enough job portraying his situation but everyone is so unlikeable it's very difficult to care about anything or anyone. Four starts for the lead, the photography and wanting to portray lgbt relationships within a sports team.

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.

Such a wonderfully lovely movie. Irrespective of your sexuality, I think many can relate to the story that is told here.

The film made Elephant and Castle and London look gorgeous.

The two main characters have such chemistry. Especially a particular scene between Warren and Mark, I think many of us have had such tender yet heart wrenching moments.

I'm also OB-sessed with the album - especially the song By Your Side! Such an anthem!

A big rainbow flag wave for the LGBTQ+ community. Inclusivity and acceptance is illustrated in this film in abundance.

A massive well done to Matt Carter and co. Loved it.

In-depth narrative features about lesser-known segments of the LGBTQ+ community don't exactly come along every day, so it's indeed heartening when one about life in one of them - specifically the gay male rugby kinship - makes an appearance in the movie market (even if primarily only at film festivals). What's less satisfying, however, is when such a release doesn't quite live up to its potential, as is the case with writer-director Matt Carter's second offering. In following the clandestine love affair of two London ruggers who attempt to conceal their secret romance from their partners and teammates, the film explores its share of ethical matters, as well as the hard choices involved in making decisions about when it's time to hold on to or to let go of existing relationships (especially when they appear to have run their course). However, in telling this story, the film drones on far too long and seriously needs to dial back some of its melodramatic soap opera tropes. It also could stand to lose some of its heavy-handed judgmentalism about open gay male relationships, arrangements that are fairly common (and, in many cases, reasonably healthy) in the LGBTQ+ community. To its credit, though, this production features an array of fine performances (particularly among its cast of colorful supporting characters), as well as excellent cinematography of the rough-and-tumble rugby matches. Sensitive viewers, though, should beware of some sexually explicit content in deciding whether to screen this offering. But then, given the picture's unfortunate shortcomings, viewers in general might want to consider that decision carefully as well. In my view, I'd wait until it becomes available for streaming - and an occasion when you've got time to spare.

An emotionally gut wrenching beautiful story, beautifully told . Highly recommend this movie. Can't say enough good things about this movie, Acting, directing, script or all spot on. It doesn't hurt that the leads are beautiful men beautifully played but the acting takes the movie to a whole new level. Both leads have every emotional scenes that they pull off in extraordinary fashion. Just enough humor and sports male bonding to keep the movie balanced and enjoyable form beginning to end. You may need a tissue or two to get through to the end but you will be glad you did.

Lesson: The grass isn't greener on the other side. Never get romantically involved with someone who is already involved. It never ends well. Warren has an incredible looking man-cave, but the weakness he showed at the New Year's Eve party was a total turn off. That was all the proof Mark needed. Mark was better off on his own. And John is the type of guy that will hang onto Warren no matter what. We all know that type of guy. For them, it's not about love, it's about possession.

Henry is hot. Despite his drinking problem, I could see him and Mark together. I can't feel sorry for Richard. He opened the door to this by allowing an open relationship. And he was always traveling and didn't support Mark's rugby passion. Those two were an odd couple. I just wish the ending would've been Mark showing up at Henry's door with a rose. Anyway, the story kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. That is a miracle in the world of gay cinema. It's worth your time.

For a film well over two hours long would you expect it to cover a great deal of ground. The trouble is, the film doesn't use its time wisely. It is slow and ponderous, with many scenes, especially on the rugby field, pointless and adding little or nothing to the narrative.

But the film's main weakness for me, is that it fails to explain why the relationship between the two main leads develops as it does. I get the lustful eye contact across the room and the subsequent hot sex, but then it becomes increasingly mystifying as they both act like love struck but unsure eighteen years olds, instead of mature grown up men. The development of their relationship is supposed to be determined by their existing relationships with respective partners. But those relationships are not even properly described, so it becomes very difficult to understand many of their actions in any meaningful context.

The rugby club members, mainly one dimensional characterisations, appear to be a rather prudish bunch for a group of gay men. The film seems to have an obsession with "cheating" on monogamous relationships (even though one of them claims to be in an open relationship). It feels more like a Victorian moral tale than a genuine portrayal of gay men, especially as everyone ends up unhappily and riddled with guilt.

It reminded me of the film Brief Encounter in its portrayal of a doomed affair by two partnered people, riddled with guilt about having a good time with each, whilst putting up with unsatisfactory partnerships just because that was the "right thing to do". In From the Side has the same moral code as Brief Encounters. It is as if nothing has changed in the last eighty years. In From the Side is not a liberated or liberating film. It is a throwback to another time when people were expected to conform to the status quo, whether it was right for them or not.

I waited to see this film for years knowing how it progressed from "request for support" to "filming" then "editing" and now "on the screen".

The film has so many layers and aspects from humour to modern day relationships to challenges that many people face in the world.

I would pay to watch it again (saw it at the BFI) and would buy it on DVD.

As a keen cinema-attendee it ranks just as high with films produced from Marvel and others.

There are so many "messages" that can be learnt from the film so well done on the director, script writer, actors and all those involved.

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.

What a mess. Although it is nice to see gay men portrayed as being non-camp for a change, portraying them as ultra straight-acting is also not realistic. The main issue of this movie is not only the length of the movie (30 min too long) but the script. The dialogue is no different from any day time soap and the drama has a telenovela feel to it. The characters are far too old to engage in this type of teenage drama. A lot of repetitive scenes could have been cut out easily. Apart from one character all characters including the main ones are not very likeable. You don't really care about any of them which show a lack of character development. A lot has not been explained and you're left with wondering what the message was. Also, the music is over the top reminding of something you would hear in a war or historical battle movie. For a movie that rides on sexual attraction and the resulting drama, the sex scenes look staged, awkward and sanitised. Sometimes a tighter editing can help but the shortcomings of this movie are too many, unfortunately.

The two leads in a (mostly?) gay rugby organization topple into an affair outside of each of their current relationships without disclosing this to their partners. It starts out as lust and becomes love, but love for each other, their partners, teammates, and the sport are all on the line.

Don't look for hard answers in this lengthy film that could have been trimmed just a little here and there. The leads and background actors are engaging and interesting. The scenes of the actual games were less interesting to me than the relationship.

It's a breath of fresh air to see gay guys in a love story, flawed as we are. This movie is a decent portrayal and neither sugar-coats nor vilifies gay men. The scenes with the parents are amazing.

I wanted the movie to be better. It's definitely worth seeing. I wanted a little more, including a more satisfying ending.