Weekend (2011) directed by Andrew Haigh

[reviews_and_ramblings]

After a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special.

Director: Andrew Haigh

Writer: Andrew Haigh

Stars: Tom Cullen, Chris New and Laura Freeman

Taglines: A (sort of) love story between two guys over a cold weekend in October.

Genres: Drama | Romance

Storyline: On a Friday night after a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club, alone and on the pull. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special. That weekend, in bars and in bedrooms, getting drunk and taking drugs, telling stories and having sex, the two men get to know each other. It is a brief encounter that will resonate throughout their lives. Weekend is both an honest and unapologetic love story between two guys and a film about the universal struggle for an authentic life in all its forms. It is about the search for identity and the importance of making a passionate commitment to your life.

Awards: WINNER - Emerging Visions Audience Award at SXSW 2011
WINNER - Grand Jury Award, OutFest 2011
WINNER - Grand Jury Prize / Best Actor, Nashville Film Festival 2011
WINNER - Audience Award, Toronto Inside Out Film Festival

@IMDb
@Amazon: Weekend (2011)



















Cast (in alphabetical order)
Tom Cullen ... Russell
Chris New ... Glen
Kieran Hardcastle ... Sam
Sarah Churm ... Helen
Laura Freeman ... Jill
Jonathan Race ... Jamie
Vauxhall Jermaine ... Damien
Jonathan Wright ... Johnny
Loreto Murray ... Cathy (as Loretto Murray)
Steve Blackman ... Straight Man in Bar
Joe Doherty ... Justin
Julius Metson Scott ... Paul

Comments

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

One of the nicest movie of this last year, very romantic but not funny or stupid. Weekend is to say the less, bittersweet, Glen and Russell met on a Friday night and spend what was supposed to be a one night stand without strings attached. But they seem to be connected and from that Friday on to the Sunday afternoon they will spend more or less all the time together or thinking to each other, knowing that at the end of the weekend, Glen will leave to move far, far away.

I loved both Glen than Russell, they are different, but with their own defined character. Russell is an orphan, brought up in foster homes, and I think he wants a family to call his own; just look at how he collects items from previous life people, like he wanted to gain memories of a non-existint family buying them in a charity shop. Glen had probably an easier life than Russell, but I had the feeling he was sheltered when he was young, and then, coming out and living in the real world got him scared of loving and feeling too much. Glen is not a bad guy, but he is not ready to committ.

I want to think that this weekend is not all they will have, I want to think that Glen will realize how good and sweet and kind and wonderful Russell is, and like in that last time, walking down the path taking him away from Russell's apartment, he will stop and look back, and change route, and coming back.

Definitely reccomended.

[darienmoya (from livejournal.com)]

Really liked this one!! Great characters and a good story.

[innersmile.livejournal.com]

I want so much to see this movie, but, hey, no chance of seeing it on the big screen around this parts. maybe I'll try and commit a copyright crime one of this days :)

[cerisaye.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this film, too. Both characters were very likeable, realistically attractive but not perfect and well played in a nicely naturalistic way that made the whole thing believable. I don't think they will take the relationship any further than a single, special weekend each will remember for the rest of his life, though I liked that they left the ending open to a more optimistic, romantic interpretation for those so inclined.

[chloris01.livejournal.com]

I saw it last week only (!) and it's a very good movie. I loved it especially because the characters seem true, real. It's romantic but not...soppy. The farewell scene at the train station is so well done, and heartbreaking.