Marek Kanievska
Another Country is a tale of rebellion against class, duty and sexuality in the depressed 1930s. The story is loosely based on the life of Soviet spy, Guy Burgess.
Set in an all-boys boarding school, two students, Guy Bennet (Rupert Everett) and Tommy Judd (Colin Firth), battle with their superiors for their differing views. While Bennet refuses the system, which denies power to homosexuals, Judd is a Marxist, very stubborn in his opinions. Both turn to communism, primarily as a rejection of the rigid hierarchy enforced at their school.
The plot begins with suicide, from a student who was caught masturbating with one of his peers. To keep the scandal away from the parents, the school enforces strong restriction against any acts of homosexual misconduct. This adds fuel to the fire for strict house captain Fowler, who has acquired a strong disliking for Bennet. The latter is punished with a whipping after a love letter, initially for James Harcourt, is intercepted by Fowler.
In the meantime, Judd denies the role of school prefect proclaiming that in the end the oppressed soon became the oppressor. However, succumbs when he hears that shall he not take the position, Fowler will become Head of House. In the end, it is too late, and the position is given to Donald Devenish.
Ultimately, the film aims to dissect the life of Guy Burgess, and how homosexuality was an important facet in his own development.
Another Country
director MAREK KANIEVSKA
year 1984
director of photography PETER BIZIOU
cast RUPERT EVERETT, COLIN FIRTH, CARY ELWES, MICHAEL JENN and ROBERT ADDIE
words PRIYESH PATEL
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