Thursday, July 23, 2015
Another version
Just when I thought I had seen enough of Christopher Isherwood's years in Berlin, this came along.
Christopher and His Kind (2011)
It is a BBC television program and original. Very good. Isherwood's life bears a lot of examination. He is a hero in many ways.
Early out and proud, he had no truck with the usual shushers who wanted him to stay quiet.
The first film was I Am a Camera with Julie Harris. That was focused on Sally Bowles. Then Cabaret, both a movie and a major hit musical.
This film is much quieter with an emphasis on gay life in Berlin at the time as well as the enclosing Nazi menace.
The cast is not made up of big stars which allows for a lot of very good ensemble acting.
Matt Smith is spellbinding as Christopher.
And, this not being a Hollywood production, the sex is honest and very hot. No euphemisms. Verbally or graphically. So much for British reserve.
Isherwood was very successful as a novelist and his many works are still in print. Even on Kindle, for gods' sake.
This film is a 5 out of 5 and part of our DVD collection.
