Another Country
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Movie Reviews of Another Country
Movie Review: The Themes Are Still Relevant Today
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a fan of this film for a long time and was glad to see it released on DVD.
This story is loosely based on the real life of a British aristocrat turned spy for Russia. Instead of detailing the main character's (Guy Bennett)adult transformation from British upper class citizen to traitor, we are treated to a more subtle story of what led the young Bennett to become disenfranchised with his British high class status and how his formative years at the prestigious Eton College, laid the foundation for his ultimate treachery.
The story is told by an elderly Guy Bennet in his Russian flat as he is speaking to a British reporter about his decision to turn against his native England and become a spy for Russia. He explains to the reporter that in order to understand his decision, one must understand the constrained up-bringing of upper class British youth, which he then goes on to recount.
The film is set against the beautiful backdrop of Eton College, the school where not only the british upper class sends their sons, but also the British royals. The cinematography is outstanding, as is the musical score- both are dark and brooding but capture both the beauty and tradition of 1930's England.
The tension in the movie is between Guy's need to be honest about his sexuality while also fitting in with the ultra-conformist status quo represented by the school's elite ruling class boys, the 'Gods'. Guy Bennet yearns to be part of the school's elite group, all the while bucking the traditional structure by mocking the rules, maintaining a friendship with his Marxist roommate and taking part in an illicit love affair with another boy.
As we watch 16 year-old Guy Bennett struggle with his sexuality and his desire to be part of a class and social structure that ultimately rejects him, it is notable that there is a sort of "Lord of the Flies" aspect to the film- there are no adults (save in the first scene when a Master (professor) walks in on two boys engaging in an intimate act) but instead, the school appears to be run in a strict and hierarchical manner by the school children themselves. The group, the "Gods", represent the schools authoritarian and traditional elements and are responsible for punishing those that question authority or violate the school rules in any way. The prestige of 'the Gods' is symbolized by their unique waistcoats, which only they can wear. In all other respects, all of the students at the school are required to dress the same and for all intents and purposes, act the same.
Despite his non-conforming ways, Guy Bennett longs to be part of this ruling elite, saying "just wait, my waistcoats are going to be the most *different* you've ever seen" with his Marxist friend Judd, questioning why he would even want to be part of such a self-serving elitist group anyway. Guy doesn't answer the question, but as his character develops, it is clear that Guy is in love with the superficial trappings of success and privilege. In fact, in many ways, Guy Bennett is a difficult character to like but his brains, sense of humor and emotional attachment to his friend Judd and his lover Harcourt, seem to redeem him.
Though it is tempting to write off this film as a touching, and at times disturbing, look at a long gone era, the themes present in the movie are still relevant today. There is still a tension between those who conform and those who don't. Class status continues to play an important role in who and what we become and the experiences of our childhood often shape us in ways we don't realize until much later in our lives. While we may think that groups such as 'The Gods' no longer exist, think of the two Presidential candidates in the 2004 US election- both were men of money and privilege who were schooled at prestigious prep schools and went on to join the elite, secretive society 'Skull and Bones'. Is that so different from Guy Bennett's 1930's world where the sons of wealth vied for positions in the schools most elite group, 'the Gods' (minus the waistcoats and top hats), only to later become the ruling elite in British government and society? That perhaps is debatable, but it is difficult to watch the film and see the underlying symbolism, themes and struggles as remnants of a by-gone era.
I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone interested in good story-telling, beautiful cinematography and British political history.
Movie Review: The Etiology of Rebellion
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1983 Julian Mitchell wrote a play based on fact about a young man (Guy Bennett) who, seeing the constraints of British society circa 1930, embraces his sexuality in a time when even the words were criminal, sees through the sad folly of the British class and empire system, and eventually abandons England to become a spy for Russia. The played starred a young 21-year-old Rupert Everett and a 20-year-old Kenneth Branagh as Guy's heterosexual roommate Tommy Judd, an obsessed Marxist as ready to leap out of the norm of British society as Guy - but for different reasons. Director Marek Kanievska adapted Mitchell's challenging play for the screen, and in 1984 ANOTHER COUNTRY became a sterling recreation of the play and a controversial film introducing the extraordinarily talented and continuingly popular Rupert Everett (who remains one of the few 'out' actors enjoying success in Hollywood). Colin Firth assumed the role of Tommy and Cary Elwes became the gay love interest for Everett's Guy Bennett. The film is one of the finest examinations of the rigid, archaically proper British schools for young men (Eton) where class is paramount in importance, rank reigns, and medieval views of sexuality and out of line thought are treated with public corporal punishment and (worst of all!) the inability to rise in the ranks of the 'important' lads. Throughout the film there is a powerful parallel between Guy's striving to become the head of the class being thwarted by his pursuing is passion for his love of men, and the 'religious zeal' approach of Tommy's absorption in Marxism, seeing Communism as the only way to correct the 'vile sickness' of current British politics and social strata. The undercurrents of bigotry are brought into focus when a fine young lad (Martineau) is caught in a sexual act with one of his classmates and is shamed into hanging himself. And when Guy's sexual tryst with James Harcourt is 'discovered', Guy is beaten in front of his compatriots, prompting him to see (with Tommy in agreement) the dead-end of British society and leave the remnants of a once glorious empire behind.
As a delightful Special Feature on this very well made DVD there is a scene from the stage production in the year prior to the film, and the dialogue between Rupert Everett and Kenneth Branagh is incisive and brilliant. This film is a masterpiece, not only in the screenplay, but also in the sensitive direction, the exquisite cinematography, and the amazingly superb acting of not only Everett and Firth, but of the entire large cast. An absolutely brilliant film.
Movie Review: Cricket, chummery, and colonialism
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is a fictional version of the beginnings of a group of real-life British traitors. As such, it speculates on the psychological motives of one privileged, public school educated man (played brilliantly by Rupert Everett). As a homosexual who was unwilling to pretend to be anything else, and as a student whose roommate happens to be a well-read Marxist, Everett's character, Guy, makes an easy leap to communism. This seems facile to me and an insult to both Marxists and homosexuals, but it's a trope I can accept for the sake of getting on with the story. (As the story progressed, I felt less concerned about whether the real-life spies were being fairly portrayed and just enjoyed the story as a piece of narrative fiction.)
What I found most engaging and compelling about this film was its depiction of an elite and closed circle of society that most people never get to enter, but which is certainly emblematic of the way the larger world operates. Younger boys are exploited, older boys vie to be house masters and "gods" entitled to wear flamboyant waistcoats. Rules are made to be bent and broken. Secrecy rules and the students hold council and administer discipline without ever seeming to consult the "real" authorities. And their fathers who sent them to this school, came up through the exact same system, and sent their sons there anyway. A colonial empire, it seems, is fueled by silence and sadism.
The movie made me think of C.S. Lewis's memoire, SURPRISED BY JOY, in which he describes his own public school education. Although he was quite discreet, his depiction of the what boys in that situation go through was equally harrowing.
Although most of the DVD extras are interesting, I found the audio commentary by the director and DP a little too focused on lighting and camera angles (i.e., dull!). But the transfer to DVD is excellent and the DP certainly deserves to be proud of his work.
Movie Review: Fantastic Period Piece, Still Relevant To Today
Summary: 5 Stars
This film has multiple levels of involvement for everyone. Following the playwright's original intent (via the DVD's special features), it's much more a commentary or observation on British life and society over the decades as anything else. It's obviously directed square at Eton College, but for my money, doesn't ever go overboard. Yes, they had fags, young boys who did things at the behest of the older boys, but they are not portrayed as being at all abused. Yes, they caned each other, but the film does not make it sound anything more than the kinds of punishments that are meted out by judicial systems to adults later on in their lives, in other words, life at Eton (and other similar schools) is really all just a metaphore for actual later adult living.
The visuals are fantastic, the dialogue thoughtful. The characters are rather stereotyped, but that is quite necessary I think. The film is most certainly not a gay film per se, but does clevery allow that society has gay folk and they must play a part. Bennett is gay, but that really has nothing to do with his moody presence. He wants too much from his culture before he is due, much like today's youth. Harcourt, his lover, is fancifully innocent of all this. Characters like the hated Fowler are all too real and in fact are the most honest of them all. Barkley portrays what I think is much more realistic, a prefect who wants others to trust him and he would never betray anyone. All in all, a great movie, a classic of British film in my opinion.
Movie Review: A Perfect Film About Western Society, Not Just British
Summary: 5 Stars
I absolutely adored this movie. The score is haunting and powerful, the young cast of now well known stars give wonderful performances and it is well written. It shows you not the protagnoist's actual steps to becoming a Russian spy (you know from the early, opening scenes that Bennett now an old man is a traitor to his country), but rather you get the foundation, the beginnings of his desire to want something else. This is especially evident in the last lines. It was one of those movies that I truly wished went on much longer even though it is of average length. I felt invested in Guy, Judd and Harcourt and it does end quickly and leaves you're imagination open to what may have happened to the others especially Harcourt.
A lot of people have said that you have to be British to understand this movie or have gone to a boarding style school like this. Well being American I had no problem connecting with the film. In all honesty it reminded me of something I heard once in a documentary about kids who go on shooting rampages in their schools have gone through similiar bullying and need to fit into norms so that they feel if they don't do well one year or get the "god" position in school then the next year it will be the same thing and the same thing. So if you're an outcast in school you are an outcast forever. I think you can draw parallels between other issues facing young people aside from just sexuality.
It is a beautiful, touching, thought provoking even now film.