Review of Stand

Anton and Vlad are a gay couple in modern Russia – a place where extreme views on same sex relationships are still publicly rampant. The authorities too seem complicit in the way homophobic attacks are ignored. Then Anton and Vlad see a man being beaten on the streets, and Anton wants to stop and help – Vlad has a different view.

They later find out that this was a homophobic attack and Anton wants to do the work the police won't do and track the attackers down. This is the story of that search.

Now there are some that moan when we have yet more depictions of homophobia in film because it has all been done before; but for a great many men and women this is a reality of life and by highlight ting this gross breach of human rights and even decency we may be able to bring around change. So for that I applaud the film makers. It is also well acted and has some excellent direction and use of cameras and angles. Some scenes could have been shorter I felt, but that is a minor issue in what many will rightly see as an important film. It is a difficult watch in places too, but that is of necessity deliberate – recommended to those who appreciate the gay film genre in all its many colours.