Another Country by Julian Mitchell - 8.8 out of 10

Another Country by Julian Mitchell
8.8 out of 10


This is a very interesting, rewarding motion picture that has alas so much fallen into obscurity that the chances of you finding iron Netflix or indeed anywhere seem to be next to zero.

Nonetheless, it was nominated for may very well be the most important cinematic trophy:

The Palme d'Or...not the Oscar for Best Film

In addition, it was also nominated for three BAFTAs, including for Rupert Everett as Most Outstanding Newcomer to Film and Best Screenplay- Adapted.

Another Country offers cinephiles the occasion to see the aforementioned Rupert Everett and equally young Colin Firth in a tale of seduction, intrigue, crime and punishment, albeit not on the scale of the Dostoyevsky saga and without any dead bodies.
Rupert Everett has the role of Guy Bennett, who would later become infamous as Guy Burgess, one of the Cambridge Spies who would betray their land and work for...

Another Country.

Guy is a homosexual, at a time when that was illegal and men in that situation were subject to punishment in many forms, from exclusion from school, to prison sentences.
Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing are among the best known figures that have suffered abominable consequences, the latter seems to have killed himself, after being castrated for being gay.

For a while, the astute Guy Bennett plays a clever game and escapes punishment.
He threatens that he would reveal his sex partners to the higher officials if he is beaten.

His friend is Tommy Judd aka Colin Firth, a communist who is enchanted by the Marxist theories alas.
As one who has had to live in a former communist country, where we will still suffer the consequences for decades to come, I have no patience for and rather loath communists.

There is however an interesting dialogue between Guy and Tommy on the attitude of the communist comrades and homosexuality...

You praise equality...so you would not discriminate is what Guy more or less expects from the commies...

Probably, this is one major reason why he went on to live I the gorgeous Soviet Union...
When asked if he would like to return, he says he would not.

On the question of some regret, something he misses, the old man that had betrayed Britain for Another Country says:

Cricket...I miss cricket.

As for his young days, it is to be appreciated that once he falls in love with James Harcourt, gay Guy prefers to suffer indemnity, abuse and punishment rather than have the man he loves suffer consequences.

Another Country is a very good, if forgotten motion picture.