Weekend

Weekend tells the tale of Russel and Glen who, after a one night stand, embark on an intense but fleeting relationship. In its apparent simplicity there is so much complexity to admire here. Most worthy of applause are the performances given by the two lead actors, Tom Cullen, who plays the introverted Russel, and Chris New, as the energetic and proud Glen.

It is not often that a work of fiction allows you to forget its authored. So often in contemporary cinema, we are constantly confronted with pulsing narrative, flashy photography and witty dialogue, to the extent that we are always alert to the fact we are watching a film. However, Weekend flows along with a naturalism so brutal that it makes you forget that what you see is in fact scripted. Yet to do so would run the risk of missing how artful the film really is. Consider the sex scenes for example, it is only when we get to know the characters fully that we are allowed to share these moments with them. Moments which are explicit in their honesty.

In terms of narrative, Weekend belongs to that sub-genre of Romance films which more or less consist of  two people talking about love. Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise and After Sunset come to mind, and with regards to British Cinema, it also happily recalls David Lean’s Brief Encounter.  However, what makes this film unique is its gloriously modern twist on the Romance genre. In the world of Weekend (which is the world we live in) casual, fleeting sex is not taboo. Instead, what is not spoken of is the possibility of emotional attachment which sex brings. Russel writes a secret log about the men he sleeps with, preferring to describe their personalities. Glen, on the other hand, is more frank. Using a dictaphone, he interviews every man he sleeps with, and makes sex the primary focus of this conversation. By keeping a personal record of their sexual partners, both characters express an unspoken desire to form an attachment to those anonymous men with whom they sleep. Neither allow a one-night stand to just be a one-night stand.

The film was shot in Nottingham, but this is never obvious, and the location’s anonymity adds to its universal message. And universality is not confined to sexuality, something which audiences, both gay and straight, should remember. At one point, Glen laments that his art project will not be seen:

“No one’s gonna come and see it, because it’s about gay sex. So the gays will only come because they want a glimpse of a cock. And the straights won’t come because, well, it’s got nothing to do with their world.”

Unfortunately, this prediction for “gay” art can be applied for Weekend itself. Whilst doing moderately well in American Cinemas, it did not enjoy the widespread distribution and viewership it deserved in Britain. Still, it’s available on Blu-Ray and DVD, and I would encourage anyone to watch it. People in the USA get to enjoy this wonderful Criterion release..