Weekend (2011)

After a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special.

Director:

Andrew Haigh

Writer:

Andrew Haigh

Stars:

Tom Cullen, Chris New, Jonathan Race

22 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Cullen	...	Russell
Chris New	...	Glen
Jonathan Race	...	Jamie
Laura Freeman	...	Jill
Loreto Murray	...	Cathy (as Loretto Murray)
Jonathan Wright	...	Johnny
Sarah Churm	...	Helen
Vauxhall Jermaine	...	Damien
Joe Doherty	...	Justin
Kieran Hardcastle	...	Sam
Mark Devenport	...	Straight Man in Bar (as Mark Davenport)
Steve Blackman	...	Straight Man in Bar
Julius Metson Scott	...	Paul
Martin Arrowsmith	...	Martin
Caroline Woolley	...	House Party Girl 1

Storyline

On a Friday night after a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club, alone and on the pull. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special. That weekend, in bars and in bedrooms, getting drunk and taking drugs, telling stories and having sex, the two men get to know each other. It is a brief encounter that will resonate throughout their lives. Weekend is both an honest and unapologetic love story between two guys and a film about the universal struggle for an authentic life in all its forms. It is about the search for identity and the importance of making a passionate commitment to your life.

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Plot Keywords:

fellatio | nudity | coming out | nightclub | intimacy | 

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Taglines:

A (sort of) love story between two guys over a cold weekend in October.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Blog Official Facebook

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 2011 (UK)

Also Known As:

Amor de Fim de Semana

Filming Locations:

Nottingham Railway Station, Carrington Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP120,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$27,245, 25 September 2011

Gross USA:

$484,592

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,192,003

Company Credits

Production Co:

EM Media, Glendale Picture Company, Synchronicity Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot using mostly natural light and only existing locations.

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Goofs

When Russell is anxiously waiting for Glen to arrive at the train station, the train announcements in the background indicate that the time is around 6.30pm, however in the next scene when both characters have gone through the barrier onto the platform, the background train announcements indicate the time time is now around 5pm.

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Quotes

Glen: The problem is that no one's gonna come and see it, because it's about gay sex. So the gays'll only come because they want a glimpse of a cock, and they'll be disappointed. The straights won't come because, well, it's got nothing to do with their world. They'll go and see pictures of refugees or murder or rape. But gay sex? Fuck off.
Russell: [laughs] Fuck it. Doesn't matter, does it? I'd come.
Glen: No you wouldn't.
[laughs]
Russell: Yeah I would.
[pause]
Russell: Okay, maybe I wouldn't.
[both laughing]
Russell: Maybe I wouldn't come.

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Connections

References Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)

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Soundtracks

Lost in Music
Composed by Jeevan Anandasivam

User Reviews

At last, a movie about falling in love, is not cute romantic comedy

In reading several reviews posted about this outstanding film, I note several things:

*I'm sick to death of people complaining they cannot understand English people speaking English. Pay attention, they are completely understandable!

*This isn't a romantic comedy!

*If straight audiences are squeamish about a movie anyone can relate to--well tough!

A superior film about a sexual and then romantic period in two young men's lives, WEEKEND is a riveting and adult piece of filmmaking. Andrew Haigh's writing and direction is so well observed and detailed the viewer is left astounded at the simplicity of his vision and the skill of his masterly direction.

Tom Cullen and Chris New play Russell and Glen with utter conviction, all the more impressive in their love scenes, and in their moments of intimate touching because one of them is straight. This must have been nerve-wracking for both of them and yet they handle these scenes with restraint and with believable ardor.

I loved the scene where Russell is visiting his straight best friend and finally admits he is deeply shaken by Glen. His friend is perfectly happy and insistent to drive him to the railroad station.

The only scene that didn't completely work for me was their night of boozing and drugging. I just didn't see Russell indulging in cocaine and while I know some people think it makes the mind clear, but there are no real revelations during this long night. Reminded me of another long filmed sequence--that endless wedding reception in Rachel Getting Married. A real misstep.

The chemistry between Russell and Glen's characters goes a long way towards the film's excellence. There is nothing cute, or silly, or humiliating or just plain dumb between these two very likable men. The camera allows you to discover them and the movie is a real gem for it.