Upcoming Release Review: Weekend (Andrew Haigh, 2011)

Weekend is the second feature by British writer/director Andrew Haigh, shot on location in Nottingham in a mere 17 days. Weekend premiered at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival winning the Emerging Vision Audience Award, before also taking out the Grand Jury Prize and Best Actor Award at the Nashville Film Festival during its run through the US. Though its release has been limited (and it hits Australian cinemas on the 26^th January) it is one of the most lauded films of the year.

On a Friday night, after hanging out with his mates, Russell (Tom Cullen) heads out to a nightclub on his way home. Intoxicated, alone and on the pull, he picks up Glen (Chris New), an aspiring artist – setting in motion an unexpected weekend together. Expecting the encounter to be just a one-night stand, they are surprised to find themselves still in each other's company the next day, sharing their experiences as gay men, with Russell learning that Glen is soon to be leaving for Oregon for a two year art course. In both crowded bars and the intimacy of their bedrooms, they share stories, take drugs and have sex – and form a connection (albeit brief) that will continue to resonate throughout their lives.

What makes this bond so unique is the fact that as these two guys start to learn more about one another – including facts they initially don’t want to disclose but become comfortable doing so later in the weekend – they discover that they are actually very different. For instance, Glen has struggled to get over the hurt caused by a past relationship and is now wary of commitment, while Russell, a loner currently uncomfortable with openly exposing his sexuality, just desires company. He wants someone to talk to and fool around with in private. Glen is openly gay and believes that there is no shame in being open about his sexuality in public. It is these differences that the other finds attractive and desires to have present in their lives. What makes this tragic is that we soon realise that this may be a perfect match (working due to the excellent performances and the on-screen chemistry between Cullen and New), one that comes about unexpectedly and completely by chance, but is influenced by circumstance. They have to make sense of what their attraction means, given the complexities of their individual situations.

It’s an honest and intimate tale – as powerful and poignant as any romance I have recently seen portrayed on screen. The observational way Haigh captures these young people in all their insecurities, emotionally opening up to one another, is refreshing and satisfying. Yet, it is all done on a small budget from a young director with two relatively unknown leads, tackling existentialism and finding contentedness with one's lifestyle, documenting their individual desires to find acceptance for who they are in a predominantly straight world, and critiquing the complexities of modern relationships (whether they are heterosexual or homosexual). Anyone can relate to the challenges experienced by these two people, whether we share their orientation or not. Though the focus has been shifted to a gay friendship, the themes are amplified through smart and sensitive writing – understanding that crafting a ‘gay film’ (as many will incorrectly dismiss it) doesn’t have to include an awkward coming-out story or be concerned about the inclusion of a sex scene that is likely to turn off disapproving viewers. It unflinchingly uses sexual candour but always in way of further unravelling these characters and not in a gratuitous way.

A large part of the film is made up of conversations between Russell and Glen, either lounging around Russell's apartment, or walking through an amusement park where they escape to following a night out with Glen's friends, and comprised of long takes. This works brilliantly, allowing the pair to improvise, and ultimately aided in giving the film a distinct naturalness. You feel their emotions because you see them emerge throughout the scene, and this often results in some really funny moments. By the end of the film, after a number of honest, revealing and existentially cleansing exchanges, you leave the cinema satisfied knowing that their emotional bond will resonate far beyond this weekend together. The two lead performances are excellent and the scoring works perfectly for this intimate and affecting study of the human condition. The praise for this film is justified. It's highly recommended.

My Rating: ★★★★1/2 (A-)