Without rewatching both films, it seemed the difference between them was: where ILYPM is about a crazy gay con man doing crazy cons for more gay lovin' (often with strange facial expressions), CaHK is about a young gay man totally on the prowl in a foreign country who is forced to find and define his moral and political position, thereby - *gasp* - growing as a person. Plus he doesn't have to contort his face or use a funny voice (posh accent notwithstanding)!
One thing I liked about CaHK is how Isherwood seems to enjoy a deviant, decadent life on the margins* - as a gay expat rejecting his privileged upbringing by faffing about in a boarding house writing novels - but that he figures out that being marginal isn't the same as being separate. *waves hand* Something something observer/participant, stories about writers etc.
*Once they cast Matt Smith, d'ya think they rewrote that first scene with his mother so he wouldn't have to whine about not wanting to be a doctor?
A few months ago you were going to float away, now you're going to freeze in place. (English "weather" barely deserves the name.)
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Date: 2011-10-30 08:39 am (UTC)One thing I liked about CaHK is how Isherwood seems to enjoy a deviant, decadent life on the margins* - as a gay expat rejecting his privileged upbringing by faffing about in a boarding house writing novels - but that he figures out that being marginal isn't the same as being separate. *waves hand* Something something observer/participant, stories about writers etc.
*Once they cast Matt Smith, d'ya think they rewrote that first scene with his mother so he wouldn't have to whine about not wanting to be a doctor?
A few months ago you were going to float away, now you're going to freeze in place. (English "weather" barely deserves the name.)