Review of Weekend (2011) by Derek M — 25 Oct 2011

Two guys, Russell and Glen, meet in a bar, hook up and have drunken sex. The next morning they end up having a conversation about the previous night, their lives, nothing special. The men form a very natural rapport and end up spending more and more time with each other each day. Those days are few in number, however, as Glen is leaving after that one weekend to live in the states.

âWeekendâ? is a magnificent testament to the power of subtlety. The camera follows the two protagonists as they spend time in the streets, in bars, in their homes, talking, bonding, having sex, making confessions. Through quiet, minimalistic scenes director Andrew Haigh reaches an intimacy with the characters equaling that of Ingmar Bergmanâ(TM)s best dramas. Tom Cullen and Chris New are both completely perfect in their natural performances; it truly feels as if Russell and Glen are real people, simply unaware of the audience observing them. This sort of authenticity in fiction is rare and fascinating.

Beauty, intimacy and wisdom are the trinity that makes âWeekendâ? such a masterful movie. The project was reportedly carried out with a minimum budget, but that doesnâ(TM)t compromise the tender and honed visual style one bit, giving the wonderful script and the quality acting a solid frame to work within.