This film is part of Free
Facing the Sun
Sao Paulo-set love triangle drama, featuring a rare TV depiction of bisexuality.
Overview
Described in a review even at the time of its broadcast as “a real curate's egg”, this ITV drama introduces winsome art critic Peter (David Yelland) as he visits married artists Gilberto (Gerard Murphy) and Vera (Victoria Fairbrother) in Brazil for Christmas. Gilberto and Peter are more than friends though, and jealous romantic entanglements ensue when it becomes apparent that Gilberto’s marriage is not over just yet. Though Sao Paulo is unconvincingly rendered with studio sets and some of the accents are questionable, the frank (and extremely rare) depiction of bisexuality and the passion and tension between the central characters make for an interesting watch.
Related
What Am I? What Am I?
Current affairs 1980 26 mins Location: Hay-on-Wye/Y Gelli Gandryll
Transgender pioneer April Ashley appears in this moving look at the challenges faced by the trans community in 1980s Britain
David Is Homosexual David Is Homosexual
Amateur film 1978 38 mins Location: Lewisham
A lonely gay man discovers friends, love and activism in this rediscovered educational film made by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality
A Couple of Beauties A Couple of Beauties
Comedy 1972 29 mins
Innuendo-laden crime caper, a star vehicle for Manchester-based drag queen Bunny Lewis
The Trial of Oscar Wilde The Trial of Oscar Wilde
Drama-documentary 1960 51 mins
Gripping TV recreation of Wilde's 1895 trial for gross indecency, starring Micheál MacLiammóir.
We Who Have Friends We Who Have Friends
Documentary 1969 49 mins Location: London
A fascinating and important film on attitudes towards homosexuality, and what it was like to be gay, shortly after it was partially legalised.
Aids: The Victims Aids: The Victims
Factual TV 1985 27 mins
Two AIDS sufferers recount their experiences battling the disease and society's misconceptions.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.