Brit film critic Mark Wilshin steps behind the camera for his very impressive feature film debut with this enthralling passionate love story.
The action which takes place on one single night in Berlin when 20 year old Will (Pip Brignall) a bridegroom-to-be has been abandoned by his mates handcuffed to a streetlamp wearing nothing except for the make up smeared on his face. A stranger passing by takes pity on him, and helps sets his free before taking him back to his apartment to lend him some clothes and let him recover from the trauma.
Wilshin’s cinematographer sets the visual tone of the piece as he allows the camera to slowly take in the sheer scale and luxury of the building where Michael (Jo Weil) lives and it is all played against a haunting Billie Holliday track.
There is an immediate chemistry between the two men and it is very quickly apparent that it goes beyond mere physical attraction. The two have sex even though there is the whole matter of Will’s impending marriage that initially is like the elephant in the room. However as the night unfolds. the pair of them open up to each other in the way that strangers find is easy to share than with close friends.
As they talk about Will’s reluctance to accept his sexuality an emotional bond between the two of them develops that goes way beyond any of the usual feelings from a one-off hook up. With the handcuffs off and wearing a borrowed set of clothes Will attempts to leave the apartment to go back to his hostel, but is inevitably drawn back to the arms of the older man who he is unashamedly attracted to.
In the short space of time this budding relationship is both electrifying and magnetic. Even though Will maybe confused about what he wants out of the rest of his life, for this one fatal extraordinary night, he knows exactly where his heart lies. The question they both have to face is whether he can accept it.
This powerful drama which is essentially a two-handed piece succeeds so well because of the pitch-perfect performances of the two very talented actors. Brignall and Weil are completely compelling from the first moment that they set eyes on each other and they literally set the screen alight. They play well off each other, especially Brignall in his film acting debut, shows a maturity way beyond his years.
Sodom has a very attractive message of accepting who you are and who you love. Asides from the odd occasion that Michael gets a tad preachy when explaining some of the potential perils (and joys) of being gay to his apprehensive new friend, it is about as near perfect as any micro-budget LGBT movie can be.
Unmissable.
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