Classic 1960s realist drama based on the play by Shelagh Delaney. Abandoned by her sailor boyfriend and her man-hungry mother (Dora Bryan), pregnant Manchester teenager Jo (Rita Tushingham) thinks she might have to face life's difficulties all alone. Help then comes in the form of a kind-hearted gay man named Geoffrey (Murray Melvin), who moves in and takes care of her; the two find happiness together, but soon life moves on..
Cast: Rita Tushingham, Dora Bryan, Robert Stephens, Murray Melvin, Paul Danquah Director: Tony Richardson Language: english
Publisher: Bfi, Year: 1961
John Hurt stars as Quentin Crisp (a role he originally played in 1975's 'The Naked Civil Servant') in this biographical drama based on the last 20 years of Crisp's life. The literary figure and gay iconoclast emigrated to New York in 1981 and lived there until his death in 1999. The film observes Crisp in both his public and private lives, from his seemingly cavalier response to the outbreak of AIDS to his tender relationship with his dying friend Patrick Angus (Jonathan Tucker) and his own response to growing old. Denis O'Hare, Swoosie Kurtz and Cynthia Nixon co-star.
Cast: John Hurt, Denis O'Hare, Jonathan Tucker, Cynthia Nixon, Swoosie Kurtz Director: Richard Laxton Language: English
Publisher: Entertainment One, Year: 2009
Another Country tells the story of Guy Bennett (Rupert Everett) and Tommy Judd (Colin Firth), teenage friends at an elite English public school during the summer of 1931.
Clever, hedonistic and gay, Bennett is in his penultimate year of school and the future looks bright. He is convinced he will rise to the heights of his chosen career in the diplomatic service by eventually being appointed Ambassador in Paris. His best friend Judd, committed to Lenin's 'brave new world', despises such bourgeois aspirations.
Homosexuality, honesty and hypocrisy are the main themes in this coming-of-age film, based on the award winning play by Julian Mitchell.
Cast: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes, Adrian Ross Magenty, Anna Massey Director: Marek Kanievska Language: english
Publisher: Film 4, Year: 1984
JJ (SKINS star Joel Dommett); an aspiring MC has just arrived on London's exciting underground urban music scene. He's got the skills, he's got the rhymes, and he's got the drive. But JJ isn't going to find it easy in this world, not only is he a white boy but he's also gay. JJ decides to come out on-stage at the Urban Slam Finals, taking his boyfriend Orlando (Marcus Kai) with him but the pair know it could get dangerous. When the couple are confronted by the infamous rap crew, the 'Ilford Illmanics', a terrifying act of violence changes all their lives forever.
Rikki Beadle-Blair (FIT, KICK OFF) is back with this hard-hitting, award winning urban drama adapted from his stage play exploring the intersection of race, sexuality and music. Starring stand-up comedian and MTV presenter Joel Dommett in his first lead role performance as JJ and a host of Team Angelica regulars, BASHMENT is like nothing you have ever seen before.
Cast: Joel Dommett, Marcus Kai, Jennifer Daley, Michael Lindall, Ludvig Bonin Director: Rikki Beadle-Blair Language: English
Publisher: Peccadillo Pictures, Year: 2013
A long, hot summer in South London is the turning point in the life for two teenagers, Jamie and Ste. Ste, a popular sporting hero at school, is being bullied mercilessly by his drunken father and so he decides to seek refuge with Sandra, Jamie's next door neighbour. One night, Jamie and Ste end up sleeping, top to tail, in the same bed in Sandra's flat, and from these beginnings a touching romance develops between the two boys
Cast: Scott Neal, Ben Daniels, Tameka Empson, John Savage, Glen Berry Director: Hettie Macdonald Language: english
Publisher: Film 4, Year: 1996
It’s the summer of 1983 in Italy, and Elio (Timothée Chamalet), a precocious 17-year-old, spends his days in his family’s villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading and flirting with his fried Marzia. One day, Oliver (Armie Hammer), a charming American scholar, arrives as the annual summer intern tasked with helping Elio’s father, an eminent professor. Elio and Oliver discover the heady beauty of awakening desire over the course of a summer that will alter their lives forever.
Cast: Timothée Chamalet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel Director: Luca Guadagnino Language: English
Publisher: Sony Pictures, Year: 2018
Derek Jarman struggled for seven years to bring his portrait of the seventeenth-century Italian artist Michelangelo da Caravaggio to the screen. The result was well worth the wait, and was greeted with critical acclaim: a freely dramatized portrait of the controversial artist and a powerful mediation on sexuality, criminality and art - a new and refreshing take on the usual biopic.
The film centres on an imagined love-triangle between Caravaggio, his friend and model Ranuccio, and Ranuccio's low-life partner Lena. Conjuring some of the artist's most famous paintings through elaborate and beautifully photographed tableaux vivants, these works are woven into the fabric of the story, providing a starting point for its characters and narrative episodes.
Caravaggio features wonderful performances from Nigel Terry, Sean Bean, and, in her first role, Tilda Swinton, who was to become Jarman's muse and long-time collaborator. A visual treat, it was the first major film production for award-winning costume designer Sandy Powell, with luscious production design by Christopher Hobbs.
Cast: Nigel Terry, Sean Bean, Tilda Swinton, Mark Tildesley, Michael Gough Director: Derek Jarman Language: English
Publisher: Bfi, Year: 1986
36 hours in the lives of a number of gay men in Clapham, South London.
Originally shown on Channel 4, this title has apparently never been released in the UK.
This is available now as a region 1 (USA) import so you will need a multiregion DVD player to be able to view it.
Cast: Rupert Graves, Tom Beard, James Bellamy, Robin Berry, Rachael Blake, Samantha Bond Director: Adrian Shergold Language: english
Publisher: Here, Year: 2007
Life for 46-year-old Henry (Vincent Franklin) and his boyfriend Lance is comfortable and settled. But after the most disastrous date night in history, involving a threesome, two police cars, and Boney M, Henry's old life shatters, and his new life begins. While Lance gets to know the mysterious Daniel, Henry soon finds himself with unexpected companions. 24-year-old Freddie and 19-year-old Dean have only been passing strangers, until now. But when they all find themselves under the same roof, they need to work out; are they friends or enemies? Can men from such different generations ever get on?
Henry's sister Cleo can only stand and watch as Henry's life spins off in wild new directions, helped by his nephew Adam. But Cleo's hiding secrets of her own. And with his dangerous old friend Cliff prowling around, Henry has to think fast, and forge a whole new life, while facing truths about himself which challenge his entire identity.
Cast: Vincent Franklin, Cyril Nri, Fisayo Akinade, Peter Caulfield, Freddie Fox, James Murray, Con O'Neill Director: uncredited Language: English
Publisher: 2entertain, Year: 2015
Entertaining Mr.Sloane is a 1970 black comedy directed by Douglas Hickox and based on the 1964 play of the same title by Joe Orton.
Keth (Beryl Reid) is a lonely, middle-aged woman living in the London suburbs with her ageing father Kemp (Alan Webb). When she meets the attractive Sloane (Peter McEnery) sunbathing on a tombstone in the cemetery near her home, she invited him to become her lodger. Soon after he accepts her offer, Kath seduces him and despite the age gap, Sloane encourages the flirtations. Kath's successful and closeted brother Ed also falls for the charms of the enigmatic Mr. Sloane and decides to make him his chauffeur, clad in a leather uniform much to Ed's delight. Only Kemp distrusts the mysterious Sloane and accuses him of being involved in an old, unsolved murder.
Cast: Beryl Reid, Harry Andrews, Peter McEnery, Alan Webb Director: Douglas Hickox Language: english
Publisher: Studio Canal, Year: 1970
