God's Own Country (2017)

This is definitely one of those movies that you watch at around 3 am when you can't sleep and you're so exhausted that nothing makes sense but everything that matters does. It is a slow burner moving but the connection that is established between the two main characters is worth every part of this movie. John was a little of annoying character to me because he always seemed lethargic but when it mattered most he was pretty alert. The chemistry between the two men shines through the fa-nominal acting displayed by the actors. Very much worth the watch if you want to spend the time and want something that will last in your heart/thoughts for a while.

This is similar to Brokeback Mountain in a few ways. The principle characters are engaged in similar farming/ranching; they are masculine and they fall in love with one another while working together under the wide open sky. The primary differences are in time period, ending and cinematography. The scenes of farm life in GOC are drab, bleak and depressing; whereas, in BM, the scenes are majestic, colorful and uplifting. The ending in BM is sad and the one in GOC is happy. The time period is current in GOC and it is assumed there is less pressure on these sheep blokes to be straight and married. Overall, I liked the picture, but it was hard to understand the dialogue unless they were shouting. The Romanian actor had a thick accent and the Irish actor likewise had a tricky dialect to decipher. In BM, I found it implausible that two masculine, closeted, married gay men would have maintained a long distance affair for 20 years. It felt contrived to set up the emotion ending. In this movie, I found the relationship and ending to be more believable.

The film depicts a young gay British man who is out of the closet. He accepts himself completely. and has anonymous sex, devoid of affection, whenever he can. He lives on the family farm. where his father has been ill. and has lost the ability to manage the place. There are numerous conflicts. To cope with his angst, the young man drinks too way too much. He throws up nearly every morning. A hired hand comes into the picture. and the two eventually begin a sexual relationship. Comparisons to Brokeback are inevitable. The film is emotionally bleak. but beautiful in spots. The dialogue is largely incomprehensible. The male lead learns about love, and is transformed to some degree. Not bad, but I would not see it twice.

First I loved the basic and down to earth people it depicts, these are a twenty something son (gay) and his stroke afflicted father and aging mother. These people are just so plain spoken and not over acted. The film even shows an initial prejudice toward their young Romanian farm hand, that with time seems to flame, smolder and then calm to a quiet acceptance.The love affair seems in the beginning to be a trial and error affair where each man is unsure what his worth is to the other. Indeed, the climax begins when the farm hand leaves, father has yet another stroke and the son John Saxby, realizes he is in love. This I can tell you for gay men is hardly a trivial judgement. Much gay sex is simply recreational and non loving on an emotional level. I felt the film ended too soon, because great depth could have come here. However recalling the denial and tragic ending of Broke Back, I honestly hoped these people could grow in love for each other at least for a while. Excellent film.