Sodom *** (2017, Jo Weil, Pip Brignall) – Classic Movie Review 12,625

Pip Brignall stars as 20-year-old supposedly straight English footballer Will enjoying his stag-do in Berlin when, handcuffed naked to a lamppost, he is rescued by handsome German older guy Michael (Jo Weil).

Writer/ director Mark Wilshin’s likeable and revealing 2017 gay-themed romantic drama film Sodom is a nimbly acted, bitter-sweet two-hander talkathon – but the talk’s interesting, credible and involving. Wilshin writes compelling, naturalistic dialogue, which feels real while making lots of points about love and life, most of them fresh and fun.

Pip Brignall stars as 20-year-old supposedly straight boy English footballer Will enjoying his stag-do in Berlin when, handcuffed naked to a lamppost, he is rescued by handsome German older guy Michael (Jo Weil), a former pianist, now a comfortable slacker. Arriving at Michael’s smart apartment, the two men share an immediate attraction. There is a real spark there. But Will, who is about to get married to an English woman in two months, can’t make up his mine whether to stay or go, and goes in a spin of love, lust, shame and confusion. Why he even starts smoking again! But they spend a night of passion, tension and self-discovery together, talking over their pasts and futures, and the dawn brings coffee, and what?

Sodom (2017, Pip Brignall, Jo Weil).

Michael and Will are so obviously made for each other, but where can their story possibly lead? It’s simple. Anywhere they fancy, if they have the courage.

The two actors are both very appealing in their very different ways, and contribute a lot to make the film so charming. They share great together. The film speaks up strongly for courage and positivity, and that’s good. The focus on just the two men and their faces and bodies does make the film very intimate, and that’s good too. Despite its attention grabbing title and first scene, it’s not very full-on sexually. It doesn’t need to be. Rather, it is more on the warm and friendly side. It challenges, but softly and gently.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,625

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com