HANDSOME DEVIL
Ireland, 2016, 95 minutes, Colour.
Fionn O' Shea, Nicholas Galitzine, Andrew Scott, Moe Dunford, Michael Mc Ehlatton, Ruairi O' Connor, Mark Lavery, Jay Duffy, Ardal O' Hanlon, Hugh O' Conor.
Directed by John Butler.
There has been a long tradition of films about boys’ boarding schools, some comedies about difficulties, some dramas about misfits, rebels, some clashes between students and teachers, some physical violence, sexual abuse.
This one, set in Ireland and filmed in an actual Rugby school, starts out fairly conventionally. A young student, need (Fionn O’ Shea) gives his voice-over version of his father after his mother’s death, marrying his young stepmother, their living in Dubai, his resentment at having to go to boarding school and his giving serious consideration to being expelled. As soon as he arrives, he is the subject of sneers and bullying. But, he has a room to himself where he can be quiet, play his favourite (older) music, take refuge from the other students.
He soon tells us that the preoccupation of staff and students is Rugby, past tradition of winning (though not lately) and the preoccupation with the sport, bolstered by the enthusiasm of the Rugby coach, Paschal (Moe Dunford). The principal shares the preoccupation and has quite an open attitude toward some of the teachers and students – though he wishes that they were devoted to Rugby.
Ned peace is disturbed when a troubled new student, expelled for fighting from his previous school, Connor (Nicholas Galitzine) is to share his room. He has a reputation as a Rugby champion – and has scenes of opportunity, training and play, to demonstrate this fully. Some of the team members are bullies and, insinuating that Ned is gay because of a film poster on his wall, purge Connor to be cautious. When Ned finds him doing push-ups, he puts up a barrier between the two beds, his own Berlin Wall, and keeps aloof.
In the meantime there is a new English teacher, Mr Sherry, a very interesting and provocative performance from Andrew Scott (Benedict Cumberbatch’s Moriarty). He wants students to think for themselves, exercises a discipline, is not particularly interested in Rugby, but encourages Ned and Connor who have found some bond in playing guitar and songs to prepare for participation in an interschool concert.
By this time, the audience may will be alert that there will be sexual identity themes, not quite as predicted, perhaps predicted with Mr Sherry, but making the relationship between Ned and Connor very awkward, so much so that Connor wants to opt out of the final match to win the championship.
Early in the piece, Ned tells us that there are moments in life that we will always truly regret – and there is certainly one here in his treatment of Connor. However, the experience of school, his not fitting in, his beginning to have a friend, enables him to defy his parents and try to persuade Connor to come back for the match.
This is a film about tolerance but, more, about understanding, especially about sexual identity and enabling people to be themselves, to be honest about their identity – which makes the team confrontation in the dressing room and the final expected Rugby triumph all the more joyous and exhilarating.
Handsome Devil (not really the most helpful title) obviously campaigns against homophobia – and has a sincere hope that there will always be understanding outcomes.
1. High school story, all boys, Irish? Arts, sport? Principal, teachers, classes? Identity?
2. The high school locations, the interiors, the sports field? The concert area? Gay club? The train ride? The musical score?
3. The title, with reference to Connor and its meaning?
4. The focus on Ned, his age, his dead mother, his voice-over, father, new wife, the comments in the car, not wanting to go to boarding school? His arrival, the bullies, talk with the principal, his own room? Contemplating being expelled?
5. Life at the school, the assembly, the principal and his talk, turning to Rugby, praising Paschal and the team? The teachers being present? Classes, Mr Sherry introducing himself, discipline, the essay, choosing Ned to read his, Ned plagiarising the song, Mr Sherry’s reaction, throwing his essay at dead, urging people to have their own voice?
6. The range of bullies, Rugby players, taunting Ned, homophobic?
7. The arrival of Connor, his age, experience, fighting at his previous school, with his mother, the discussions with the Principle, to share Ned’s room, Ned seen him doing the push-ups, antipathy, the group of footballers meeting, tearing the foreign film poster from the wall? Ned putting up the barrier? The team expectations, Paschal and his expectations, Connell and his playing school, the play and the manoeuvres, place in the team?
8. Connor finding net playing the guitar, the music bond, playing together, the possibility for sharing, Mr Sherry and the idea of their performing together, the rehearsals? The two becoming friends?
9. The concert, Connor not going, Ned and his poor performance? Ned wandering the town, following Connor, the gay bar, Connor entering, seeing Sherry with his friend, Ned seeing and understanding Connor? Connor returning by train, the encounter with Mr Sherry, the discussions, cover, Connor urging Mr Sherry to be honest?
10. Norman and is telling the audience that there are occasions when the worst thing happens or is done? The motivation for his denouncing Connor? Walking out through the assembly?
11. Connor, the disappearance, Ned and his parents taking him away? Ned shamed, getting out of the car, the decision to find Connor, find the boat, talking with him, persuading him that there was still time to come back and play?
12. The championship, Connor returning, the team playing, the dressing room, Paschal and his antipathy, homophobic, challenge to the team, refusing Connor permission to play? The gradual moving of the members of the team to Connor’s side? Playing, and the joy of the win?
13. The principal, excited, Mr Sherry and his introducing his partner, the joy of the victory – and the moral about identity, being oneself, understanding of sexual identity?
