Clapham Junction (2007)

A chronicle of 36 hours in the lives of a number of interconnected gay men in Clapham, South London.

Director:

Adrian Shergold

Writer:

Kevin Elyot

Stars:

Tom Beard, James Bellamy, Robin Berry

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Beard	...	Roger Hopkirk
James Bellamy	...	Black Youth 2
Robin Berry	...	Man in Toilet 2
Rachael Blake	...	Belinda Hopkirk
Samantha Bond	...	Marion Rowan
Stuart Bunce	...	Gavin
Philip Childs	...	Newscaster
Jason Frederick	...	Black Youth 1
Richard Freeman	...	Registrar
Rupert Graves	...	Robin Cape
Stephen Hagan	...	TV Assistant
Jefferson Hall	...	Mail Man
Johnny Harris	...	Tough Man
Francis Lee	...	Murray
David Leon	...	Alfie

Storyline

Robin, a gay writer, has his script declined by a television executive whilst school-boy Theo stalks his neighbour Tim, on whom he spies through the window. Terry, who lives with his grandmother, prepares for a night out whilst professionals Gavin and Will celebrate a civil partnership though faithless Will flirts with young waiter Alfie, giving him his ring. Terry picks a man up at a gay club, inexplicably giving him a savage beating-up. Robin goes cruising in a toilet meeting the closeted Julian, before going on to a dinner party with married friends. To Robin's surprise Julian also turns up, having hidden in a cubicle whilst Alfie was pursued and attacked by gay bashers. Terry finds the severely injured waiter but rather than help him steals Will's ring. The dinner party guests, who also number Theo's parents, see the ambulance draw up for Alfie but Julian refuses to tell the police what he saw, to Robin's dismay. Terry himself is also beaten up and treated in hospital by Gavin, ...

---

Plot Keywords:

gay | pubic hair | male pubic hair | male frontal nudity | cult film | 

---

Taglines:

Inspired by true events.

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official producer/distributor's page for the series. [UK]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 July 2007 (UK)

Also Known As:

Место встречи

Filming Locations:

Golders Hill Park, Hampstead Heath, Hampstead, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Television, Darlow Smithson Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This attracted 1.1 million viewers when first shown on Channel 4 in the UK, a good figure for a minority channel.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
radio announcer: 30 degrees plus expected today. In fact, we could break the record which stands as the twelfth of June this year...
doctor: Look to the right.

---

Connections

References Maurice (1987)

User Reviews

A big disappointment from an otherwise very talented writer

This is the kind of drama that I suspect will be loved by straight television critics and loathed by gay men. It would be easy to say that it holds up a mirror to ourselves and that we simply don't like the reflection, but my reasons for disliking this drama run somewhat deeper than that.

On the plus side, it's universally well performed and often well directed. London feels magical, but it's hardly authentic. The biggest problem is characterisation - or that lack of it. Characters are reduced to ciphers - they are stand-ins for a series of situations and issues. I don't need to love characters (and indeed, there's absolutely no one to love here), but I do want to engage in their lives and concerns. I want to get under their skin, to understand them more by the end than when I started watching two hours previously.

The drama takes place over 24 or so hours in the life of 7 (or maybe 8) gay or bisexual men and youths. Different story lines are juggled and the various characters find their lives engaging with others - often by the most spurious and improbable of coincidences.

It's as if writer Kevin Elyot wants to throw in every concern and thought he's ever had about gay life into a single drama. As a result, nothing seems satisfyingly explored and only the surface of some very big issues is scratched.

Is Clapham Junction bad? No, but from this otherwise talented writer it's a very big disappointment. I can't help wondering who he and Channel 4 thought that they were making it for.