Christopher and His Kind (2011)

'Dr Who does Cabaret' would have been an appropriate title for this Christopher Isherwood biopic, starring Matt Smith, if only because the two's outfits are so similar, this being set in the 1930's. That's where the similarities end though - you don't get many gays in Dr Who... oh well, at least since Russell T. Davies stepped down from the helm and Scottish agenda kicked in. You certainly don't see Smith enjoying vocal sex with handsome German men every Saturday night. 

I only know of Isherwood through the odd article in the gay press and, of course, Cabaret the movie and the musical, based on his book Goodbye to Berlin. This drama covers the period Isherwood spent in Berlin and his experiences with the gay underworld, rising Nazism and yearnings of the heart. Oh and young Jean Ross (Imogen Poots), the real-life Sally Bowles. I enjoyed the drama (and the comedy) of a new perspective on the run up to war, from the perspective of a foreigner, and a gay one at that - there are so many different stories that can be told about such a horrendous part of world history, it's fascinating in a gloomy sort of way. 

Peopled with beautiful boys it's no wonder Isherwood enjoyed his time in Berlin, particularly when the lovely Douglas Booth played his model-handsome paramour. His experience with a brother who bought into the Nazi agenda brought a chilling edge to the light-hearted goings-on. Matt Smith is a joy to watch in the role, and he's a believable character, not camping it up, playing the right level of frivolity. Lindsay Duncan as his mother is also a highlight, but then I seem to find she's wonderful in everything (and was a 1-episode companion to the 10th Doctor, while Toby Jones, also here, played a malevolent entity for the 11th). This was a really interesting and enjoyable piece of gay history/film.