Forgive and Forget

Description

This insightful British film features the handsome, macho David, a construction worker who visits trendy Soho for casual sexual encounters. David is unable to admit to himself or anyone else that he is gay, including Theo, his good-looking, straight best mate whom David secretly loves. Inseparable since childhood, they've always been there for each other. That is until Theo moves in with his new girlfriend Hannah, putting a strain on David and Theo's friendship. It takes an appearance on the TV show "Forgive and Forget" to set David on the right path to accepting both himself and Theo's new relationship. Sexual tensions build and secrets are bared in this edgy, hard-hitting drama

Customer Reviews:

Looking for the Happiest Day of Your Life.......2006-02-27

FORGIVE AND FORGET was originally written by Mark Burt and directed by Aisling Walsh as a TV movie aimed at a straight audience in the UK. That fact is important to remember as it makes this excellent film more credible to the audience that is finding it negative. The world at large remains homophobic as is evident not only in the US with all the measures before the voting public about gay rights, but also with the unrelenting gay bashing around the world in virtually every country. FORGIVE AND FORGET attempts to defuse some of that irrational behavior, yet sadly it only succeeds on some levels: some are still either incredulous that this story could happen and end the way it does while others quietly nod in recognition of a an atmosphere that remains essentially unchanged with the apparent passage of time's enlightenment.

Working class plasterer David (Steve John Shepherd) and perennial student Theo (John Simm) have been best friends (mates) for fourteen years, David the larger of the two being Theo's protector and defender. They are devoted to each other in the best sense of the word. Theo begins seeing artist Hannah (Laura Fraser) who is still recovering from a broken relationship with an unfaithful guy. As the couple's relationship intensifies, David sees his mate moving away from him emotionally, a fact that is made more difficult due to the fact that David is a closeted gay man, still living with his virulently homophobic parents, and in truth is deeply in love with Theo. Theo tries to bring David into his new life with Hannah, but David resists, begins having meaningless sexual encounters in Soho, and gradually finds ways to weaken Theo and Hannah's new relationship by playing on Hannah's insecurities. David's attempts at finding time together with Theo result in weakening Hannah's trust and she leaves Theo. As the truths of David's desperate attempts to retain Theo to himself become apparent, Theo questions David's motives. David, unable to talk with anyone, opts for going on a popular UK confessional TV show ('Forgive and Forget') where he admits he is gay and declares his love for Theo, a public announcement that results not only in David's being disowned by his parents but also in being beaten bloody by Theo, a sad dénouement stopped only by Hannah's intrusion during the beating. The only positive aspect of David's public confessional is that at last he is free of the lie he has been living, and though he has seemingly lost everything, he at last has some peace of mind - a tragically confessed happiest day of his life.

The cast is homogenously excellent, but the quality of acting by the exceedingly handsome and charismatic Steve John Shepherd and by John Simm and Laura Fraser is exceptional. Whether the audience is deeply disturbed by this film or closely aligns with its message, the film as an artwork cannot be faulted. It is a brave little movie that dares to hold a mirror up to the audience, hopefully enlightening at least a few as to the perpetuated homophobia that maligns the lives of many citizens. Recommended viewing. Grady Harp, February 06

If you like drama you will like it.......2005-08-25

This is story of comming out guy who in love with his best friend. You will be surprised about the way and about results to which this comming out story leads. I really injoyed movie and acting was very good. To bad that this item is not available here anymore. Great movie worth buying or at least renting if you can find it in the stores.

Loved Steve John Shepherd.......2005-07-09

Hated everything else. It's a boring, irritating, slow piece that isn't nearly as clever or fun as it seems.

I loved the lead (acting, body language, look, everything) and didn't mind his best friend, but the story takes way too long to unfold and there are a whole bevy of uneccessary and unimportant (and uninteresting) characters which confuse the sloppily-told story and you'll be reading the synopsis to find out what the director was trying to tell you. (Because it isn't at all clear.)

Unfortunately the story spins totally out of control with unbelievable and impossible story twists that ruin whatever small amount of empathy you might have for the characters. Nobody comes out of this looking good.

Then there is the violence and homophobia which the director seems to think we enjoy watching. As entertainment, this stinks, and it's actually offensive at points.

"Forgive" might be worth watching for Steve John Shepherd and to see for yourself how you feel about it, but as entertainment, it's awful.

Forgive the ending and forget the message.......2005-06-13

Forgive and Forget, directed by Aisling Walsh, is a story about David (Steve John Sheperd) a plaster mason who is in love with his long time best friend Theo (John Simm) who is straight and moves in with the girl of his dreams Hannah (Laura Fraser). As Theo and Hannah get closer, David begins to feel threaten with the loss of a friendship and his long time secret love. What emerges is a deceptive ploy by Daivd to derail the couple and solidify his feelings for Theo.
This movie starts off very promising with solid character development and the interactions between David, Theo and Hannah runs smoothly. The script and director do a nice job of letting the romance of Theo and Hannah flourish, while David pines away and is slowly comsumed with jealousy and fear of losing something he never really had (Theo's romantic love interest). As the movie comes to its end it starts to fall apart, the utter violence that consumes Theo as he tries to beat David (with a pipe) is so against character and misplaced it comes across as ridiculous. The idea that David tells Theo about his love on a talk show is just as foolish since the script has him so far in the closet it would take a burning house to get him out. In the end what you won't forget or likely forgive it the inability of the writer or director to take control of this ending and make it a meaningful message instead of some poor attempt of David attaining sudden blissful insight after his beating.

Film Has Some Merit Despite Some Flaws.......2005-02-02

I enjoyed this film very much. It strikes a common chord for a lot of gay people who have suffered rejection and pain for their coming out of the closet. How many can identify with the lead character David, obviously suffering from the depression of an unrequited love for his best straight friend of fourteen years, a fellow named Theo. What gives this film merit is that they made the gay character straight acting, devoid of all feminine stereotypes that most gay films project into their lead gay characters. In an ironic twist, his best friend, Theo, played by John Simm is decidedly feminine acting and looking yet he is the straight guy. Unfortunately, Simm and the actress who plays his girlfriend have NO chemistry, thus making their relationship implausible. If it is true that gay people look for "looks in a person first" rather than personality, then this movie proves that this is a myth. I liked the fact that David, who could have any man he wanted (because HE is the good looking one) saw beyond Theo's average looks and felt a genuine, albeit, obsessive and unhealthy love for him. One sympathizes with David because he is so obviously miserable having to stand by and watch his best friend get it on with the girlfriend, and then hear the details afterward. Again, how many gay people have ever been in this situation? It is a common occurrence in the gay community. Another implausibility is the "coming out on a talk show" with a near "Jenny Jones" type of fiasco at the end with Theo nearly beating David to a pulp until his girlfriend, who inexplicably and conveniently shows up and stops him from killing David. One can't believe that Theo would have THAT much violence and hated toward David, no matter what drove David to break up the relationship between Theo and the girlfriend. John Simm (Theo) did not play the aspect of homophobia convincingly enough to warrant his attack. The film ends with David serenely contended in a lush, green park, free at last. Free from hiding, yes, but free from his love for THeo? I think not. The film was, indeed, realistic in its attempt to portray the consequences of coming out and a homophobic society. However, the end result is that, in my opinion, one is not entirely convinced that Theo would abandon David in such a violent way. Not after being taken care of and defended by David for fourteen years. Thanks to the fine portrayal of the actor who played David, this film has merit because he made the character sympathetic and identifiable, despite some of the malicious things he was driven to do for the sake of his love for Theo. This film is worth a look.

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