a short film by Timothy Smith
2007 | 15 mins | UK
Omar .... Seb
Fernando Peres .... Rafael
Val Rassi .... the voice of Seb
Le Weekend
a well observed journey
of self-discovery
Screened in Great Britain as part of the
21st London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
- 24 March 2007
photo from the film by Timothy Smith
www.leweekendsuper8film.com
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Whilst touring the film festival circuit in Brazil and Montreal with his thought-provoking work
ATTACK, multi-skilled director, producer, cinematographer, editor and writer Timothy Smith
came up with the idea for this highly assured short.
Jointly written by Smith and Nyah Farier and shot and edited within five intensive weeks, the
result is a film that in paying homage to noted filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard, amongst others, tells
the story of Seb, a young French film student who descends on London for the weekend, intent on
shooting footage for his latest course assignment. Armed with his Super-8 camera, he is soon
to be found filming the custom landmarks of the capital, only to become disillusioned by
the experience, along the way switching the architectural beauty of St Paul's Cathedral
for the welcoming company of gay-man-about-town Rafael; aka a free room for the night.
Only few things in life are free, as Seb who hasn't even seen a naked man before, let alone
engage in close encounters of the homosexual kind, has somehow failed to tell Rafael that
he's straight. Question is, does he mention this detail before or after Rafael shows
him a part of London that's certainly not included on the official tour!
Yet such is not what you think. For whilst male nudity is on clear view here, thanks to the
well-toned physique of Brazilian-born actor and model Fernando Peres as Rafael and the now
almost requisite shower scene, the true revelation on offer is of a more meaningful
nature, being that as seen through the eyes of Egyptian-born actor Omar as Seb,
namely viewing a side of himself as hitherto unseen.
It is this, coupled with a vibrant mix of music and narrative that rapidly draw you into this
highly engaging tour of London. It is one in which the 'in French with English subtitles' vocal
delivery of Val Rassi as 'the voice of Seb' not only charts the thoughts of your typical
/ atypical tourist, but equally the feelings of a man on a journey of self-discovery.
In short, this well-executed tale marks yet another fine example of the creative cinematic
output of a director who is building a sound reputation for himself on the film short
front, being a name that like the film itself, is already one to watch out for.
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