Every film has it’s issues, of course, and Weekend‘s definitely include the immense amount of substance use and the mildly non-consensual sex, but I did really enjoy this movie.

Weekend tells the story of Russell, who meets a man at a bar. He and Glenn, the man he quickly falls in love with, spend the next 48 hours together, before Glenn leaves to move to America. While the 48 hours were short, and both knew they would not last, they grow closer as the film progresses, and they both end up growing a lot throughout the movie.

The day that Glenn has to leave for his train, Russell does not plan on trying to stop him. He knows that art school is what Glenn wants, and ultimately Russell wants what is best for him; however, as Russell is at his god-daughter’s birthday party, his best friend convinces him to at least go say goodbye.

At the train station, the two men get a proper goodbye, and even though there were no confessions of love, it is clear that the two greatly care for the other– regardless of if they will ever get to see each other again.

Representation Correction

This film was one of the first big queer movies to come out after Brokeback Mountain, and it acted as a sort of correction in the eyes of queer representation.

The move does a wonderful job showing the softness that men can have with another, rather than the hyper masculinity that is seen in Brokeback Mountain. While the two still don’t get their “happily ever after,” the movie still acts as a sort of reset on what viewers expect to see in queer media.

Queer Connections

What I think this film does a really beautiful job of is showing queer connections.

Glenn and Russell grow beyond close to one another, even though it is just throughout a weekend. I think that a lot of audience’s might not think that is a natural response to spending one weekend together, a total of 48 hours, but I think that as a queer viewer, I can understand the film more.

They have something so crucial to their identities in common: their queerness. This innate difference from the “norm” truly allows them to grow close to one another, supporting one’s differences and understanding each other in a way that their straight friends simply cannot.

Because of this, they are able to support one another. Throughout the film, it is clear that Russell has difficulties expressing his queerness in public, and that he isn’t comfortable showing it. Glenn, who is an artist, is very comfortable with his sexuality, and is working on an art project, recording post sex monologues from his partners. His comfortability of his sexuality is what started their relationship, and it goes to show their differences.

One of the most important scenes, in my opinion, is when the two of them are laying in bed, softly talking to one another. Russell tells Glenn that he is most comfortable when he is alone, and that he doesn’t even second guess himself.

Knowing that Russell, an orphan, never got to come out to his parents, the two men run through a simple role-play coming out scene, where Glenn acts as Russell’s father. I originally cringed at the idea, fearing that because they were sexual partners that it would be weird, but the scene was incredibly heartwarming. Russell is finally able to, out loud, express his identity, and it is clear that the conversation really helped him.

When Russell and Glenn are saying goodbye at the train station, Russell openly kisses Glenn, something he would have never even thought of doing in public, and that scene is a direct cause and effect of their role-play, as he is finally comfortable as himself.

Seeing this is just a reminder of how little someone has to be in your life to have a positive effect on you. They knew eachother for a weekend, not even knowing each other’s last name, and yet, they made such an impact on one another.

Works Cited

Haigh, Andrew, director. Weekend, 2011, https://www.amazon.com/Weekend-Tom-Cullen/dp/B0090EHLUY. Accessed 2024.