Telling of the growing relationship between a shy, retiring toilet attendant (Lewis) who tends for a young rent boy (McCole) attacked and left for dead in a cubicle, Clean is a brilliantly acted short film with a shocking ending. Playing the quiet older man, Gary Lewis has never been better. Full marks must also go to Stephen McCole, an extremely brave actor (he spends much of the film stark naked!), he manages to evoke our sympathy whilst playing a deeply flawed character. Apart from Kate Donnelly playing Lewis's wife, Clean is basically a two-hander, and is a really outstanding example of what can be achieved in a short film when the direction and acting are spot-on. I'd urge you to search around for a copy on DVD or video.
2 Reviews
A very powerful short.
Sleepin_Dragon3 February 2024
A rent boy is badly beaten and finds himself in a public toilet, he is attended to by the janitor, and the pair experience some very strange feelings and emotions.
It's hard to believe that this is now 25 years old, I can remember seeing it at the time, after watching Vigil and seeing the pair, this came back to me, what a job to try and track it down. I seen to remember this being on channel four very late ibw night, then it seems to have been totally forgotten about.
I remember it being pretty shocking at the time, male nudity was very much taboo at the time, and the content was also somewhat original for the time.
The lines are very much meant to blur here somewhat, you have the boy, who's injured and desperate, and you have the attendant, who's clearly repressing some feelings, both are in a desperate situation.
Two outstanding performances, you have the ever wonderful Gary Lewis, and the super talented Stephen McCole, both are incredibly good, fair play to the latter, he's pretty much in the buff for most of it.
If you can get a copy, I'd recommend it.
9/10.
It's hard to believe that this is now 25 years old, I can remember seeing it at the time, after watching Vigil and seeing the pair, this came back to me, what a job to try and track it down. I seen to remember this being on channel four very late ibw night, then it seems to have been totally forgotten about.
I remember it being pretty shocking at the time, male nudity was very much taboo at the time, and the content was also somewhat original for the time.
The lines are very much meant to blur here somewhat, you have the boy, who's injured and desperate, and you have the attendant, who's clearly repressing some feelings, both are in a desperate situation.
Two outstanding performances, you have the ever wonderful Gary Lewis, and the super talented Stephen McCole, both are incredibly good, fair play to the latter, he's pretty much in the buff for most of it.
If you can get a copy, I'd recommend it.
9/10.
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