Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.

HANDSOME DEVIL (Ireland 2016) ****
Directed by John Butler

Review by Gilbert Seah

On would never tie a gay film with the sport of rugby with the climax of the film being the crucial rugby match.

HANDSOME DEVIL is the new sweet little Irish film that addresses both the topics of coming out and coming-of-age. Though coming out is a well-worn theme in gay films, Butler introduces a few neat approaches. “It does get better,” is the advice a gay adult gives to the gay lad who is facing trouble after trouble about his coming-out.

The film’s setting is a rugby-mad boarding school. An unlikely friendship develops between a dashing new roommate, the HANDSOME DEVIL, Conor (Nicholas Galitzine) of the title and the bullied kid, Ned (Fionn O’Shea). Ned’s voiceover claims that the most embarrassing thing he ever did in life is the best thing that ever happened to him.

With this notion, Butler’s feel-good film is a real surprise. It would be difficult to dislike this one. Openly gay actor Andrew Scott (he played “C” in SPECTRE) delivers a spirited and commendable performance as the English teacher.

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