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A review by mxd
Man's World by Rupert Smith
4.0
There are two stories running parallel to each other here, one in the present and one in the fifties. The present has the character Robert with the freedom to be out and indulging in some of the facets of gay culture, and the past has Michael, in the closet, and doing his national service in the RAF.
Firstly, I thought I'd probably be inclined to dislike Robert's storyline because it smacked of excess with his designer clothes, his gym body, the drugs, the clubs, the general Queer as Folk vibe. I also thought I'd prefer the fifties storyline because my brain was already reading it through some Merchant/Ivory filter.
I loved both timelines and the characters too. I started off feeling bad for Michael's predicament of being homosexual at a time when it was considered illegal, but near the end I actually felt more sorry for Robert. I suppose the characters from the fifties timeline just seemed tougher for having endured so much, whereas Robert has a freedom they never really enjoyed and yet there's more of a fragility about him which makes you ignore his obsession with his abs.
Also, I loved one particular moment in this story where Robert and a character called Stuart (ugh, the worst) go to a sex club and Robert observes that it's the illegality of the atmosphere that holds the appeal for the clubbers, which is in stark contrast to Michael's closeted existence during a time where homosexual acts could land you in prison. It's such a simple little observation about how an atmosphere of danger adds to the thrill, but it was suddenly like watching these two timelines vibrate against each other like two guitar strings. It was a very cool moment.
Enjoyed this very much - touching, poignant and surprisingly funny too.
Firstly, I thought I'd probably be inclined to dislike Robert's storyline because it smacked of excess with his designer clothes, his gym body, the drugs, the clubs, the general Queer as Folk vibe. I also thought I'd prefer the fifties storyline because my brain was already reading it through some Merchant/Ivory filter.
I loved both timelines and the characters too. I started off feeling bad for Michael's predicament of being homosexual at a time when it was considered illegal, but near the end I actually felt more sorry for Robert. I suppose the characters from the fifties timeline just seemed tougher for having endured so much, whereas Robert has a freedom they never really enjoyed and yet there's more of a fragility about him which makes you ignore his obsession with his abs.
Also, I loved one particular moment in this story where Robert and a character called Stuart (ugh, the worst) go to a sex club and Robert observes that it's the illegality of the atmosphere that holds the appeal for the clubbers, which is in stark contrast to Michael's closeted existence during a time where homosexual acts could land you in prison. It's such a simple little observation about how an atmosphere of danger adds to the thrill, but it was suddenly like watching these two timelines vibrate against each other like two guitar strings. It was a very cool moment.
Enjoyed this very much - touching, poignant and surprisingly funny too.