'Another Country' is a 1984 British romantic historical drama written by Julian Mitchell, adapted from his play of the same name. Directed by Marek Kanievska, the film stars Rupert Everett and Colin Firth in his feature film debut.
Another Country is loosely based on the life of the spy and double agent Guy Burgess, who is now remembered as a member of the "Cambridge Five" spy ring that operated from the mid-1930s to the early years of the Cold War era.
The film, and play before it, explores his homosexuality and exposure to Marxism, while examining the hypocrisy and snobbery of the English public school system. In the real Eaton, Burgess was remembered as amusingly flamboyant, and something of an oddity.
The setting is a public school, modelled on Eton and Winchester, in the 1930s. Guy Bennett (Rupert Everett) and Tommy Judd (Colin Firth) are pupils and, because they are both outsiders in their own ways, friends (Bennett is gay while Judd is a Marxist).
I stumbled upon this film by sheer accident and although I found watching what happens to Guy rather stressful and a little too real, the set is beautiful, especially on the river (they filmed at Oxford University) and the cricket clothes with pink silk trims, were a particular favourite.
But what's makes this film stand out in my mind, apart from the bitter sweet taste, is Guy's love interest James Harcourt played by Cary Elwes. Their romance was bashful, sweet and innocent which I find tends to be unusual for LGBT romance in films. Being head over heels since I was 5 for Cary Elwes' character in 'The Princess Bride', seeing a gay Westly on the screen was literally a childhood dream come true.
Be warned, the trailer reveals the entire plot, I don't know who made it and thought it was a good idea but never the less the trailers below.
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At the time of writing this Another Country is available to watch on Amazon Prime or you can watch it for free on Daily Motion following the link here.
by
Julian Mitchell & Marek Kanievska