by Murtada
Do we have a new gay classic coming our way this year? Judging by the reactions from a few film festivals, we just might. The film in question is Francis Lee’s debut God’s Own Country. The story is about a farmer from Northern England and his journey of sexual discovery after falling for a Romanian migrant worker...
It first received strong notices at last January’s Sundance. It also played Berlin and just won the audience award at Frameline, San Francisco’s LGBTQ film festival
The lead parts are played by Josh O’Connor (The Riot Club, Florence Foster Jenkins, Peaky Blinders) & Alex Secareanu. God’s Own Country sparked predictable comparisons to Brokeback Mountain (2005) because of its rural setting. The director doesn't care for the comparison. He told Empire Magazine:
I love Brokeback Mountain. The comparison feels like an honour, but they are very different. Brokeback is of a particular time and place – its two central characters can't be together because of society's attitudes. In God's Own Country, it's all to do with the central character's inability to open up.
God’s Own Country is coming to NY and LA on October 27th, elsewhere on November 11th. Before that it will open Outfest LA next week.