Christopher and His Kind
United Kingdom
2010
89 Min
Color
1.78:1
English, German
Synopsis
Christopher Isherwood (played by Matt Smith), escapes repressive English society and his suffocating relationship with his mother, Kathleen (played by Lindsay Duncan), for the decadent – and politically unstable – world of Thirties Berlin.
The hedonistic cabaret scene of Berlin in the Thirties is in full swing when wide-eyed young writer Christopher Isherwood arrives in the city, unable to speak a word of German.
To Isherwood’s reserved English sensibility, the city’s thriving gay subculture is thrilling and intoxicating, but he soon finds himself heartbroken after the failure of a hopeless love affair, and so sets out on a process of self-discovery.
Jean Ross (played by Imogen Poots), is an aspiring actress and singer who provided Christopher with the inspiration for the Sally Bowles character of Cabaret fame.
Gerald Hamilton (played by Toby Jones), is a peculiar man who provided the inspiration for the title character in the celebrated Isherwood novel Mr Norris Changes Trains.
Wystan Auden (played by Pip Carter), is the famous poet with a droll sense of humour who persuaded Christopher to join him in Berlin.
Heinz (played by Douglas Booth), is an unassuming street cleaner who Christopher meets and falls in love with during his time in Berlin.
Christopher And His Kind is written by acclaimed playwright Kevin Elyot. –BBC
Director
Geoffrey Sax
Geoffrey Sax began his career in the 1970s, working for the BBC as an in-house director. Some of his earliest work includes the 30-minute special Canned Laughter, written by and starring Rowan Atkinson, and British comedy series such as End of Part One and Cannon & Ball. He moved into drama with episodes of Bergerac and Lovejoy, then directed Christopher Lee in the TV movie The Disputation (1986).
After leaving the BBC, Sax worked on freelance TV programs such as The New Statesman, for which he won a 1991 BAFTA TV award for Best Comedy Series. Subsequent British TV work includes movies such as Framed (1992) starring Timothy Dalton and Circle of Deceit (1993) starring Derek Jacobi.
Sax then went to the U.S. to work on American TV movies such as Broken Trust (1995) starring Tom Selleck for the Turner Network, Dr. Who starring Eric Roberts for Fox and the Showtime western telefilm Ruby Jean and Joe (1996) again with Selleck before returning to his homeland.
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Displaying 4 of 6 wall posts.
Sarah J. Bean
25Aug11
This film was almost great in that it has an ideal cast and a grand budget from BBC. While there are some mesmerizing scenes/imagery, the film became less about Isherwood's experience and more of Nazis, Jean Ross, and some failed loves. Unfortunately, none of these stories are ever finished, so the film leaves much to be desired. Still, many will be satisfied just to see Smith pull off a character besides the Doctor.
liesbet vanessche
25Jul11
A great movie, the combination of gay history and nationalistic history is really confronting, but I liked it. I love Lindsay Duncan and her role, she was great. Matt Smith does a good job, but I can't help but see the Doctor every time he's happy. I liked him better in Womb.
Eric Johns
8Jun11
As my friend (facetiously) described it, "Matt Smith plays an English novelist who goes to Berlin to have sex with attractive men, and then the Third Reich happens." I liked it nonetheless. Queer history! Weimar Republic Berlin! Matt Smith! Perfect combination for me.
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