By: Sub_marine

Sub_marine — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:53:42 +0000

You have an excellent overview of the movie, but I’m afraid some of the director’s hints were too subtle for you.
Let’s start with the fact that the scene where the main characters meet is constructed in the best traditions of romantic comedy. Then, after an awkward pause caused by their first meeting, Conor deliberately walks in front of Ned in a tank top with his arms open that same evening and carefully monitors the impression he makes.
Gay men often look for a strong character and a strong masculine presence in their romantic partners. The paradox of the story lies precisely in the fact that the fragile, intellectual Ned shows much more character and consistent rejection of the existing order than Conor. This is the main reason why Conor is so eager to talk to Ned after English class, where Ned’s “plagiarism” of an old song not only wittily highlights his position at school, where he is considered a coward and second-rate for his dislike of rugby. Ned also mocks teacher Sherry for his inability to spark interest in essay writing by giving such a clichéd topic. Remember, we are never told that Conor also loves old alternative rock! What’s more, the music Ned listens to is “old stuff” for Conor. Nevertheless, Conor uses music to get closer to Ned, who deliberately keeps him at a distance because he is too cute and smart for an athlete. And because Ned has been in love with him for a month now and finds it very difficult to control himself in his presence.
So the “inspiring” teacher Sherry, who noticed their mutual interest in each other, only hurts them when she insists that they participate in the talent contest. Of course, Conor enthusiastically uses rehearsals for the competition as an excuse to legally see the school’s main outcast. Moreover, it is very important to Conor that he and Ned sing such a serious song together. In fact, almost all of the songs featured in the film unambiguously point to the mutual romantic interest of the characters, starting with “Thirteen” Big Star, which plays during the beating of Weasel, to Prefab Sprout’s “Desire As” during Ned and Connor’s first real conversation, to Rufus Wainwright’s “Go Or Go Ahead” in the film’s finale.
During their conversation on the boat, Ned meaningfully shows Conor his bag of belongings, hinting that he will return to school with him, but making a demand: to play in an important rugby match for the school. And we see in close-up that Conor is then carrying his bag.
Before that, Ned wakes up in the room and discovers that Conor has already separated himself from him, moves to his “half” of the room and touches the unmade bed. Remember that it took just one glance for the rugby team captain Victor to realize that Conor had not spent the night at school.
And if Conor helped the school win the cup for Ned’s sake, then Ned helped the school get a £5,000 prize for Conor’s sake by writing that essay. In my opinion, you are clearly underestimating the potential of this film, which calls for fighting stereotypes and cruelty in society with intelligent methods and relying on the common sense of young people, rather than on “kind” but actually two-faced teachers.

Comments on: HANDSOME DEVIL

By: Sub_marine