Clapham Junction (film)
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Clapham Junction is a 2007 British television film, written by acclaimed playwright Kevin Elyot, about the mixed experiences of several gay men during 36 hours in London and the devastating consequences that unfold when their lives collide. It was broadcast on Channel 4 in July 2007.
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[edit] Story
From a civil partnership ceremony to a heated dinner party, five separate stories are woven into the fabric of modern day London from school and work, to bars and clubs, during one hot summer’s night in the capital.
[edit] Information
The drama was shown as part of a short season of programming by Channel 4 to mark the 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales. The drama caused some controversy, and received a mixed reaction - particularly from a number of gay viewers who felt it was a negative portrayal of gay men, though some found it to be an intelligent and thought-provoking piece of work[1]. Producer Elinor Day, however, stated in an interview with The Independent that the intention was to raise public awareness about homophobia which still exists in society despite progress with gay rights[2]. Interviewed in The Telegraph, writer Kevin Elyot has stated that he did not intend to write a drama that "lectured" viewers; “This film is absolutely not that, and I can’t bear being lectured at by any piece of art. I never, ever – I hope – point the finger. There’s nothing worse than sensing that the writer feels a bit self-righteous. You tend to get that with quite a lot of the writing about Iraq, for example.” [3]
[edit] Pet Shop Boys track
In Channel 4's first screening of "Clapham Junction" on 22 July 2007, there is a scene depicting a homophobic assault in which the song "I'm With Stupid" by the British band Pet Shop Boys was used as background music (the assailant, played by Paul Nicholls, told his victim that he hated the Pet Shop Boys as he assaulted him). However when the drama was repeated a week later on Channel 4's digital channel "More 4" on 30 July 2007, the scene had been altered and the Pet Shop Boys track was replaced with different music and the character's dialogue dubbed to remove all references to the Pet Shop Boys entirely.
[edit] Closing Piano Music
The closing piano music featured at the end of Clapham Junction is World Trade Center Piano theme by Scottish composer Craig Armstrong. It also featured on the 2006 film World Trade Center
[edit] Cast
- Samantha Bond
- Rupert Graves
- James Wilby
- Paul Nicholls
- Lucy Russell
- Luke Treadaway
- Stuart Bunce
- David Leon
- Joseph Mawle
- Phoebe Nicholls
