"Bedrooms & Hallways" is the second feature from Rose Troche who directed, edited, produced and co-wrote the award winning "Go Fish". This time the young American (31 at the time of making this film) concentrates on directing from a script by Englishman Robert Farrar. Apparently the script went through some twelve drafts with Troche faxing her interpretation of a scene across the Atlantic to Farrar who would "British-ise" it - as she says, "... he would totally make it funnier and turn it into something British".
The result of this rather unusual collaboration is a delightful romantic comedy, with a particularly witty script, in which a group of people - some gay, some straight, some still exploring - search for that special relationship.
Leo returns home to a surprise 30th birthday party orgainsed by his flatmate Darren. He is brought face-to-face with his recent rather complicated love life and immediately retreats to his bedroom - his life is just too complicated and we are about to be told why...
Leo has lost faith in his ability to find his special someone. His flatmate Darren is in love with Jeremy, a successful real estate agent who delights in using the houses he is selling for clandestine meetings with his lover, Leo has no one. Leo's partner in their furniture business encourages Leo to come with him to a New Age style men's group, facilitated by the caring, tolerant and slightly eccentric Keith. When the honesty stone is passed to Leo, he creates quite a stir by declaring his attraction for fellow group member Brendan, much to the shock and amazement of the "manly" group members. We soon discover that Brendan is in the process of breaking up with Sally, who it turns out is an old school flame of Leo's. Curiouser and Curiouser as Alice would say.
I had a lot of fun with this film. In the tradition of the best comedy it plays with stereotypes, frequently subverting our expectations. There are some great jokes at the expense of the New Age and the Men's Movement - the women's movement is also present but in the background - Keith's wife Sybil runs her own groups and the two are in competition for possession of the various rooms in their house - The Eskimo Room complete with harpoon, the Moroccan Room with the honesty stone and the Zen Room, a haven of peace unless the occupants of the neighbouring room choose to give voice to their feelings. And the characters are brought alive as flawed people searching for love and relationship, some of whom just happen to be gay.
"Bedrooms & Hallways" may not be the sort of film that lingers long in the memory, but it is entertaining and nicely paced, with energetic performances from the cast and plenty of laughs.
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Director: Rose Troche (