Weekend

Billed as the gay version of Linklater's Before Sunrise, we are introduced to Russell and Glen as a couple of young gay men who hook up randomly at a bar one night. Over the course of the weekend, the one night stand turns into a bit more as conversations and meetings continue to happen. The two men get to know each other and actually become interested in each other, finding out where they agree and disagree on a variety of topics. Be warned that the film is not rated, so we are shown significant episodes of both sex and drug use. The sex is important to the film, showing how the men navigate a relationship in which physicality and emotion are both important and both a bit scary. The drug use is frankly, disappointing. It seems to suggest that being high is necessary to reach the level of vulnerability required for true relationship. After seeing the film, I was wondering what the result would be if the film was played with a man-woman relationship, with the woman playing either the Russell or the Glen role. Effectively 3 different films would result and the hetero versions would both utilize built in stereotypes to poor effect. Instead, I think the film as produced avoids the stereotypes of relationship to allow the relationships to actually develop on screen.
4 stars (out of 5)