Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Another Country...


Based on the award winning play by Julian Mitchell, the film explores the effect of Public School life in the 1930's on Guy Bennett (nee the Russian Spy Guy Burgess) as his homosexuality and unwillingness to "play the game" turns him eastwards towards communist Russia. The film features a 24 year old Rupert Everett, a young Colin Firth... among others including Rupert Wainwright. Released in 1984, a Cannes favorite... based on the West End play from 1982, which up-and-comer Everett also headlined. Only accolade was Best Artistic Contribution - Peter Biziou - 1984 Cannes Film Festival... its weird cuz I watched this movie and thought this was Rupert Everett's first movie!? I liked it... but really thought to myself, so because he was scorned because of his homosexuality he betrayed his country to become a Russian spy, really!? Seriously!? *For a more factual account of the Burgess-Maclean affair, see the TV movie An Englishman Abroad.

New York Times Review