After a Friday night out clubbing, the cautious and introspective Russell (Tom Cullen) wakes up the following morning to find Glen (Chris New) in his bed. While both men envisaged their drunken tryst to be little more than a one-night-stand, in the sober light of day something unexpected happens and the pair sit around and begin to talk. Over the course of the weekend, Russell and Glen get to know each other and begin to discover a connection deeper than anything they had anticipated. Beautifully cinematic, yet always entirely natural, Andrew Haigh's study of two men falling for each other sensitively depicts the excitement and awkward self-doubt that comes with the prospect of a new relationship. While such themes may be universal, Haigh's script addresses many aspects of the contemporary gay experience that are rarely discussed so astutely or with such authenticity, even when the characters themselves struggle to find the words to articulate their feelings. With two wonderful performances from Cullen and New at the centre, Weekend is a heartfelt, intelligent and, perhaps most importantly, achingly romantic piece of work.

Michael Blyth