BEDROOMS AND HALLWAYS
UK, 1999, 91 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Mc Kidd, Tom Hollander, James Purefoy, Simon Callow, Hugo Weaving, Paul Higgins, Julie Graham, Christopher Fulford, Con O’ Neill, Harriett Walter.
Directed by Rose Troche.
Bedrooms and Hallways is a British sex comedy, glimpses of characters who are in their late twenties, early thirties, facing their lives, their sexual orientation, relationships and the beginning of a new century. The focus is on Kevin Mc Kidd, a homosexual man who has two roommates, one very camp (Tom Hollander) and the other straight (Julie Graham). He is more introverted and reluctant to make friends. He is persuaded by a worker to join a men’s group, run with over-the-top enthusiasm by Simon Callow. The members of the group are guided to expose their inner feelings, their innermost life – as well as go on a wild-man hunting expedition. Harriet Walter plays Callow’s wife and companion, running women’s groups in the same house.
The Tom Hollander character becomes infatuated with a real estate agent played by Hugo Weaving. He goes to various estates, discusses their saleability with the clients – and then invites his friend for a sexual encounter in the building.
Jennifer Ehle portrays Purefoy’s partner – but they have broken up and, from the men’s group, he becomes infatuated with the central character, moving to a crisis of orientation and identity.
The film is straightforward in its dialogue, geared for audiences of the same age as the central characters.
It was directed by American Rose Troche who made the lesbian-oriented film, Go Fish. Her work was mainly in television series in America in the succeeding years.
1. The title, expectations?
2. British sex comedy, the end of the 20th century? Characters and situations, problems? The perspectives of the director?
3. London for twenty- and thirtysomethings, an enclosed world, workplaces, flats, living arrangements, the city and the environment? The musical score?
4. Leo and his voice-over, his character, birthday, introverted, coming home, the surprise party, Darren and Angie? The guests and his different reactions? Leo wanting to be alone?
5. The film as Leo’s story: age, sexual orientation, flatmates, his routines? Talking? The encounter with Adam, the recommendation of the men’s group? Keith and his enthusiasm? His attending, talking, exposing his own self, relationships, gay? The interaction with Brendan? His negative reaction to Terry? John and his experience with the stone? Leo’s dreams of Brendan, the date, the affair? Darren and his reactions, comments? Angie? Brendan’s ex, finding Darren tied up in the house, talking with him? The meeting with Leo, the attraction, issues of orientation, romance? The effect on Leo? The truth about Brendan? Brendan going to Thailand? Leo’s learning experience?
6. Darren and his camp style, flatmate, chatter, his story? The meeting with Jeremy? Jeremy as an estate agent, promiscuous, discussions with the people wanting to sell, the old couple, the family with the trains going past? Sex in the houses? Darren caught? His excuse, the humour?
7. Jeremy as the estate agent, exploitative in his work, relationships?
8. Adam, ordinary, working, his participation in the men’s group?
9. The men’s group, Keith and his style, enthusiasm, always affirming, the meetings, talk, the stone and the ritual, the revelations? His encouragement? The effect of the wild man’s weekend – especially for Leo and Brendan? His wife, the clash, her women’s group, the sexual relationship, independence?
10. Brendan, the ending of his relationship, his participation in the group, reaction to Leo, talking with him, going out, appearing in Leo’s dreams? With his ex, at work? The reality, discussions, change or not, Leo and the truth, his going to Thailand?
11. John, part of the group, his strange experience with the stone?
12. Terry, ordinary man, declaration about sexuality?
13. Brendan’s ex, ordinary, with Brendan, with Leo?
14. Angie, her place in the flat, talk and advice, her own life?
15. Glimpses of people’s lives, perspectives, values, search?
