Following its win of the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast at the Sundance Film Festival, gay 90’s drama Plainclothes is enjoying a limited release in the United States courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. A feature length directorial debut for Carmen Emmi, who also scripted the film, Plainclothes tells the story of a forbidden romance between working-class undercover cop Lucas (Tom Blyth) and his target-turned-lover Andrew (Russell Tovey).
The trio behind the film joined GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos to discuss the importance of the story in today’s hostile political climate for LGBTQ people, and how, from the film’s opening sequence to its gripping ending, everything can – or must – be said simply through a look.
“So much of my queer experience … it’s a lot about being in those spaces and looking at another person and just knowing with a look of the eye that you’re safe or that you’re being like flirted with or that they, you know, they think you’re cute. So much of our queer experiences is through these quick glances that basically say a paragraph,” says director/writer Carmen.
Russell concurs: “once Tom and [I] were connected on Zoom, as soon as we sort of locked eyes there was sparks.”
When asked about what the impact of a film like Plainclothes might have had on Russell as a young gay man, he’s emphatic on the importance of stories like this. “when you’re younger, you’re desperate for anything where you can see yourself,” he shares. “Queer Cinema, there’s not enough of it. There’s not enough of these stories being told. So, that representation was definitely lacking when I was younger.”
The trio quickly emphasize how this is only more true under the Trump administration. Tom connects the political resistance of a film like Plainclothes to Bishop Marian Budde, the first female bishop of the diocese, renowned for her outspokenness against political oppression. She made waves at the start of the year when, after Trump’s inauguration, she gave a sermon calling on the new returning President to have mercy on LGBTQ people, immigrants, and other marginalized groups.
“Imagine if if more and more people in those positions of power and both government, but especially religion started speaking out like that? It would break down those barriers and it would it would send a clear message to those in power who who are pretty keen on stripping away as quickly as they can that we’re just not having it. We’re not going backwards again.”
Spoiler alert, but Marian’s position in the church specifically has relevance given the occupation of one of the film’s forbidden lovers.
Before signing off, Anthony asks Carmen what he wants audience members to leave with after watching Plainclothes and his answer is simple: “That no queer people die in this movie.”
Plainclothes is playing in select theaters across the United States as of September 19. Visit Magnolia Pictures website for tickets, or check your local listings.
