God’s Own (Cross)Country: An Overlooked LGBTQI+ Gem
You learn a lot on a twelve-hour train trip.
Firstly, the human body can consume more cups of tea than you would think possible.
Secondly, that God’s Own Country is a great film. Perhaps even better than Call Me By Your Name.
Now before you string me up for making such a provocative statement, please hear me out.
When I first watched God’s Own Country at the cinema with my partner, I found it to be a lovely LGBTQI+ picture. Also, it is probably the closest to watching a smutty film in a cinema I will get: let us just say that we were captivated throughout. At the same time, I also thoroughly enjoyed Call Me By Your Name, being such a tender story of love and how one does their best to cope with the fact they will never be with the one they want due to real life getting in the way.
However, after re-watching God’s Own Country on my recent marathon train journey across the country, I began making mental comparisons between it and Call Me By Your Name, and I felt that the former was comparatively underappreciated and somewhat overshadowed by the success of the latter. Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to argue the case that God’s Own Country is, at least in some ways, the superior of the two pictures.
Oh, and just a quick warning: spoilers ahead for both films.
1. Sometimes Less is More
While I did enjoy the beautiful shots of the idyllic Italian countryside in Call Me By Your Name, the sunny scenery effectively complimenting the characters’ blossoming romance, it all just felt a little bit too perfect to me. Perhaps it is just because I am not used to such a meteorological phenomenon — I have lived in Scotland my whole life and we only get three days of sunshine per year — but I just felt it made the overall story less impactful by being excessively enchanting.
In contrast to this, the landscape featured in God’s Own Country is far bleaker and less forgiving. The Yorkshire Dales stretch far in all directions, with no protection from the harsh climate and little colour to bring it to life. Yet this works in the film’s favour, juxtaposing the sweet and fragile love that develops between the two main characters, with the fact their bond was able to grow against such an austere backdrop making it even more admirable. Again, it is perhaps because I can identify more with the geography of the Yorkshire moors than the sunny vistas of Italy that God’s Own Country had a greater impact on me.
2. I Swear I Have Seen You Somewhere Before
Relating to my first point, it was not only the idyllic Italian countryside that made me feel less able to relate to Call Me By Your Name. Alongside this was another arguable issue: casting. While Timothée Chalamet is still a rising star — rightfully so given his star turn in this moving picture — the appointing of well-known Armie Hammer, who despite his fame is so well-cast that he was practically poured into Oliver’s “Isherwood swim shorts”, does detract somewhat from the film’s relatability. Indeed, while the chemistry between the two actors is ever so palpable, it does give off a distinct waft of Hollywood perfection.
Contrast this with God’s Own Country, where the two lead actors — Alec Secareanu and Josh O’Connor — are relatively new to the silver screen, though no less talented. Watching their relationship develop over the course of the film from anger and hatred, to a deeper understanding of each other and pure passion, I felt drawn in by their chemistry. In fact, I think the relatively dowdy, kitchen-sink drama of their romance makes it all the more believable.
3. Put the Great back in Britain — Brexit: A BBC Miniseries
Now before I go any further, I must say that both films contain important messages and themes for not only gay men but also anyone who identifies as LGBTQI+, a person of faith, or even just feels like they do not have a bright future to look forward to.
In Call Me By Your Name, we see the young Elio struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his Jewish heritage, and the kinship he shares with Oliver in this regard brings them both closer together, both romantically and spiritually. Furthermore, the idea that the expectations of family and religion ultimately prevent both men from being happy, especially given the story’s conclusion whereby Oliver marries a woman back in the USA and Elio is left to come to terms with this crushing blow, is particularly affecting. There are very few that could not identify or empathise with this depressive outlook on life and the forbidden nature of many forms of love.
However, the tone of God’s Own Country is perhaps that more relevant to many, especially British audiences. Here, we see how not only both externalised and internalised homophobia hurt Johnny and Gheorghe’s opportunity to pursue a romantic relationship, but we also glimpse the dark underbelly of small-minded townspeople who further despise Gheorghe as he is Romanian. While these themes are arguably no more important than those featured in Call Me By Your Name, they are perhaps more pertinent, given the ongoing Brexit debacle facing the UK, and the rise of fascism and alt-right groups in Western culture. The harsh realities facing those who love someone from another country are only growing harsher. And it is because of the relevance of the film’s messages that I, on some level, felt for the characters more.
4. So Much for My Happy Ending
While the setting, actors, and themes of both films are important and somewhat differentiating factors, one of the main reasons I enjoyed God’s Own Country that slight bit more was its ending.
As I already touched upon, the final minutes of Call Me By Your Name see Elio coming to terms with the fact that Oliver is engaged to a woman and that they will never be together again. This is all the more upsetting to see given the intimacy they shared over the long, sunny, Italian summer, and because Oliver is Elio’s first true love. Yet this ending may seem slightly stereotypical of many LGBTQI+ films, where the main characters rarely catch a break and achieve the hopeful future they want and deserve.
On the other hand, despite the bleaker setting and tone of God’s Own Country, the final act sees a “turn up for the books”-style conclusion. After Johnny lashes out and hurts Gheorghe, the latter leaves Yorkshire and takes up a job on another farm. While Johnny later laments his actions, he still feels his family and lack of a say in his future prevents him from going after him. However, it is the scene with Johnny’s father, where he implies he is aware of Johnny and Gheorghe’s true relationship and ultimately gives them his blessing that really resonated with me. The fact that Johnny’s father is willing to accept his son’s sexuality is touching, and gives Johnny the push he needs to find Gheorghe and bring him back to his new home. The closing scene sees the two cautiously looking forward to a very bright future together, and it did not fail to put a smile on my face.
Ironically, although I appreciate a mature, real-life movie ending, it is sometimes nice just to have a simple, happy ending to think about as you leave the cinema.
5. If in Doubt, Sex Sells!
Let us not beat about the bush: both films feature some thrilling sex scenes. They are different but great in their own ways.
Call Me By Your Name features erotic and sensual love scenes between Elio and Oliver, and if you are a fan of fruit, then you will have a whale of a time.
God’s Own Country has some rugged romps between Johnny and Gheorghe in the harsh Yorkshire scenery, with more heat and raw passion than you can shake a — big — stick at.
To be honest, both are great films in this regard. I guess it just depends on what mood you are in really.
