Weekend š²
Happy Monday! On this final week of Pride Month, Iām recommending one of my favorite LGBTQ+ movies of all timeāand one of my favorites of the 2010s.
Todayās movie is Weekend (2011)āavailable on The Criterion Channel (they have a 14-day free trial available). This indie romance was highly acclaimed after its premiere at the SXSW Film Festival and would go on to be one of the less than 50 films from the 2010s to be added to the Criterion Collection, a curated collection important classic and contemporary films.
What it's about: After meeting at a club, Russell (Tom Cullen) and Glen (Chris New) have what they think is a one-night stand. However, it turns into a weekend-long conversation about identity, love, and acceptance. [Trailer // 97 minutes]
Why you should watch it: Weekend is a meditation on moments. There are no grand romantic gestures or ridiculous ultimatums. Though, the central conflict of the movie is an impending departure. Its greatest virtue is its realism. So rarely in relationships nowadays we say what we feel. So two men with a mutual attraction that want it to become more wonāt explicitly address that feeling.
Instead, Haigh hides that development in the small momentsāa touch, a look of familiarity or understanding. As the two men see each other more, each sexual encounter becomes more explicitātheir first hookup isnāt shown on screen. Itās Haighās way of showing their growing intimacy and perhaps love. As their physical relationship grows, so does their emotional one. The depths of their conversations turn the Weekend into an unraveling of identity and self-acceptance.
šŗ Buy or Rent: Prime Video | Apple TV | YouTube
Pair it with š·
Columbus:Ā After his father falls ill while on a speaking tour in Columbus, Indiana ā a small midwestern town renowned for its modern architecture ā Jin (John Cho) finds himself stuck waiting for his condition to improve. While wandering around the town he strikes up a conversation with local Casey (Haley Lu Richardson), a young architecture enthusiast. [Where to watch]
Have a terrific week!
See you Thursday ā
Karl (@karl_delo)