Weekend, is a realistic dramatic romantic film, that follows the lives of two men over a weekend as they develop both feelings for each other and a better understanding of themselves. The film is a good contrasting case study when comparing to the other films such as Kingsman: Secret Service (2014) and Skyfall (2012), as a significant theme or even issue highlighted, is the theme of masculinity, and its different variations. Stereotypes of masculinity represented in Skyfall and Kingsman include the men being dominant, fearless, and with the constant attraction and objectification of women. As Weekend has male protagonists, masculinity inarguably plays a role, however, it shows that having an emotional and vulnerable side can be a sign of masculinity, demonstrated through Russel's journey from hiding his sexuality to opening up in a subtle, but public display of affection towards Glen at the train station.
Another stigma, almost, that the film address is the awkwardness and misrepresentation of gay sex and homosexual relationships. The close-up and intimate angles used in the film are designed to make the film seem intrusive on a subject which is not often at the forefront of the mainstream Tv and film which is consumed. This invasiveness is constructed to demonstrate how alike homosexual relationships are to the more commonly represented heterosexual relationships and highlight the reality, in comparison to over feminised or camp representations of gay people in the mainstream media. The director and writer, Andrew Haigh, is a gay man himself, which not only is significant in terms of diversity in the industry but also explains the realness and believability of the film, as it comes from a genuine place.
The film was shot, and set in Nottingham and took a total of 16 days to film, costing roughly £120,000 to make, compared to Skyfall which cost $150-200 million to make, and was filmed over 128 days. The film won a number of awards including 2 British Independent Film Awards, as well as 18 others.
Personally, this film is not my favourite due to the intrusiveness of the sexual scenes which made me as an audience member feel uncomfortable, a feeling I know was shared with some of my classmates. However in terms of narrative, and the types of shot used, I think the film was well executed and successful in the message it was trying to put across.
Darcey as ever this is well written piece, however i would like you to have delved a little bit further into the comparative and contrasting elements of the films both on a narrative and a production level. Well Done.
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