Weekend

 (2011)

Weekend Blu-ray delivers great video and superb audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
On a Friday night after a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club, alone and on the pull. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special. That weekend, in bars and in bedrooms, getting drunk and taking drugs, telling stories and having sex, the two men get to know each other. It is a brief encounter that will resonate throughout their lives. The Weekender is both an honest and unapologetic love story between two guys and a film about the universal struggle for an authentic life in all its forms. It is about the search for identity and the importance of making a passionate commitment to your life.

For more about Weekend and the Weekend Blu-ray release, see the Weekend Blu-ray Review

Starring: Tom Cullen, Chris New
Director: Andrew Haigh

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Weekend Blu-ray Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov, July 26, 2012

Winner of Most Promising Newcomer and Best Achievement in Production Awards at the British Independent Film Awards, Andrew Haigh's "Weekend" (2011) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include original theatrical trailer; new video program created by Criterion featuring director Andrew Haigh, producer Tristan Goligher, actors Tom Cullen and Chris News, and director of photography Ula Pontikos; short interview with director Andrew Haigh; audition footage; two short films directed by Andrew Haigh; and more. The disc also arrives with an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by film critic Dennis Lim. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Alone

After attending a party, Russell (Tom Cullen, TV's Black Mirror) heads to a nightclub somewhere in the city. He has a couple of drinks and meets Glen (Chris New, TV's Garrow Law). The two talk and then head to his place. There, they talk some more and then make love.

On the following morning, while drinking coffee in bed, Glen asks Russell to participate in his art project. All he has to do is explain how he felt when he first saw him, how he felt later on, and how he wanted to feel - while he is taping him.

Russell's confession soon evolves into a conversation about life, relationships, and stereotypes. Glen also asks Russell to clarify whether he is actually out. Eventually, the two exchange phone numbers and arrange to see each other again.

Russell and Glen meet again. This time around they talk about their jobs - Russell is a lifeguard while Glen works in an art gallery - traveling, and America. Later on, they end up back in Russell's flat, where they get high and make love again. Before he leaves, Glen promises to call Russell. Moments later, he comes back and reveals to him that he is moving away, to America, for at least two years. But they could see each other again, one last time, at his farewell party.

Andrew Haigh's Weekend reminds about Spanish director Julio Medem's Room in Rome in which two beautiful women meet and spend a night in an expensive hotel, making love, talking about their partners, triumphs and disappointments. Before the night is over both realize that they are madly in love with each other.

In Weekend the two protagonists also fall in love and realize that they were meant for each other. Both are gay, but only Glen appears comfortable with his sexuality. Russell is a quiet and sensitive young man who has chosen to live his life mostly in the shadows of other people, not necessarily hiding, but certainly not being completely out and proud.

The film's greatest strength is its frankness of expression. The majority of the discussions in it are about identity and recognition, but it never feels like they are part of a big statement. They come and go as Russell and Glen learn about each other and their lifestyles.

There are plenty of witty one-liners. However, viewers easily offended by crass and explicit talk could disagree. Those who do understand that from time to time real people use colorful language under certain circumstances will certainly appreciate Haigh's sharp sense of humor.

The cast is excellent, with Cullen in particular looking tremendously convincing as the shy and slightly disoriented lifeguard. The short sequence at the end of the film where he holds the tape recorder and listens to his own voice is incredibly poignant and touching. New is also believable as the frustrated artist who has decided to seek a better life in a country he believes is a lot more tolerant towards men like him.

Shot on digital video, the film tends to look a bit soft at times. The camera work is also shaky from start to finish, but there are no quick cuts and zooms.

Note: In 2011, Weekend won Most Promising Newcomer (Tom Cullen) and Best Achievement in Production Awards at the British Independent Film Awards.

Weekend Blu-ray, Video Quality

 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Andrew Haigh's Weekend arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

Approved by director Andrew Haigh and director of photography Ula Pontikos, the high-definition transfer appears fairly similar to the one Peccadillo Pictures used for their Blu-ray release of Weekend in the United Kingdom. Because the film was shot on digital video, some contrast and clarity fluctuations are occasionally present. The majority of the close-ups, however, convey pleasing depth. Most of the outdoor footage is also relatively crisp. Colors are stable, but during the nighttime sequences the blacks and browns look a bit soft (this softness, however, is a source limitation, not a transfer weakness). Overall, compression is better here, but once again I noticed some extremely light banding. Lastly, there are no serious stability issues to report in this review. To sum it all up, the technical presentation of Weekend is up to the high standards set by previous Criterion releases. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Weekend Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.

Considering that Weekend is primarily a dialog-driven feature, the fact that the lossless track's dynamic range is fairly limited isn't surprising. Only during the party scenes there is some notable dynamic movement, but the film's sound design is indeed very modest. The dialog is clean and stable. Also, there are no pops, audio dropouts, or distortions to report in this review.

Weekend Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras

 

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for Weekend. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Andrew Haigh's Weekend - in this program, director Andrew Haigh, producer Tristan Goligher, actors Tom Cullen and Chris News, and director of photography Ula Pontikos discuss Weekend, its message and unique qualities. The program was created by Criterion in 2012. In English, not subtitled. (31 min, 1080p).

• The Sex Scenes - in this short video piece, director Andrew Haigh discusses some of the film's intimate scenes. In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080p).

• Audition Tape - raw footage shot by producer Tristan Goligher and featuring Tom Cullen and Chris New. The actors perform two short scenes. Both are followed by the finished scenes from the film. In English, not subtitled. (11 min, 1080p).

• Chris New's Footage - during the shooting of Weekend, actor Chris New brought a video camera to the set. Presented here is the footage he and other cast and crew members shot with it. In English, not subtitled. (9 min, 1080i).

• Quinnford + Scout - director Andrew Haigh hired the Irish team of Quinnford + Scout (a.k.a Colin Quinn and Oisin Share) as the set photographers for Weekend after finding inspiration for the look of his film in the lighting and framing of their photography. In this video essay, Quinn and Share discuss their work and their experiences on the fim's set. In English, not subtitled. (8 min, 1080p).

• Short Films - two short films directed by Andrew Haigh.
  
  1. Cahuenga Blvd. (2003) - in English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080i).
  2. Five Miles Out (2009) - in English, not subtitled. (19 min, 1080i).

• Booklet - an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by film critic Dennis Lim.

Weekend Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation

 

What separates Andrew Haigh's Weekend from other similarly themed films is its genuine sincerity. Admittedly, this could be what turns off some viewers, but I think that most will appreciate the fact that the film does not rely on old cliches to deliver its message. Kudos to Criterion for adding yet another unique contemporary film to their catalog this year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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