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

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@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.

[bethbetter.livejournal.com]

I really loved this one. The performances were very real. I agree with you about hoping they will have more than just that weekend.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

We can build the hea we prefer the directory didnt CUT out possibility

[blake-fraina.livejournal.com]

I was able to see this one last autumn in a local art house cinema that opened not too far from my home.

And I loved it.

I agree with you that both characters are unique and very likeable. Unlike you, I don't believe they will ever get together, but what was important is how they effected one another. How each of them grew as a result of their "brief encounter." Glen realizes he's able to love someone and that wanting to be in a committed relationship isn't the sole province of bourgeois straight people, while Russell abandons his shame/reserve about being gay and kind of "comes out" with that public display of affection in the train station (which just killed me).

This is definitely one I need to own on DVD.

Thanks for the review!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Im a romantic at heart and i San unito the l'asta second to see in something was happening. But yes the last scene was heartbreaking and in and case IT'S an ending with hope