A romantic drama set in the world of a gay rugby team, In from the Side emerges as a strikingly done and evocative film from Matt Carter about desire, throwing caution to the wind and finding the people who care about you in whatever form it comes.

Mark Newton(Alexander Lincoln)is a relatively new B team player in the Stags, an inclusive gay rugby team in South London that is struggling financially as of late. One night after a match, his eyes meet with the handsome Warren(Alexander King). He plays for the A team and there is an immediate spark between them. After a few drinks and flirting , they fall in to bed together. This causes a problem because both are in relationships, albeit ones that they aren’t very happy in. The quiet Mark is in a long distance relationship that is allowed to be open but with rules, while the more self-assured Warren is with a member of the A team. Though they try to deny their feelings, they can’t resist each other and a full blown affair begins . While attempting to make sense of it all , relationships within the team start struggling. This is especially the case of Henry(William Hearle), who looks up to Mark and has feelings for him. Because of the distance that occurs because of Mark’s affair, Henry begins suffering with a drinking problem. With the team financially strapped and loyalties beginning to divide, both Mark and Warren struggle to hide their secret relationship which leads to much upheaval for everyone around them.

Matt Carter is on directing duty and he knocks it out of the park, clearly putting his heart and soul into the film. It’s the little moments that really stand out in this slow burning drama; the furtive glances, the chance encounters and the unspoken desire that rises that tell us all we need to know about the relationship forming at the core of the film. What Carter gets across amazingly and in a realistic manner is the atmosphere  of the rugby club. The authenticity comes through with all the teasing, camaraderie and eventual bits of rivalry between a vast array of colourful characters. Both Carter and his excellent screenwriter Adam Silver have wrote a screenplay that feels real and like you could know the characters that populate the rugby team. The feeling of the club being like a family is deeply felt, evincing a sense of real togetherness even if the toughest of times. And it has to be noted that while the main characters are all gay, it’s never really mentioned or made a big thing of. It’s presented in a realistic, matter of fact and accepting manner as it should be and it’s nice to see it done that way. The passion and intensity of the love scenes and the clinches between burn across the screen with growing ardour as the affair deepens and both start to question the outcome of their deception. I’ve heard some quarters say the film goes easy on the characters considering they are having an affair. I wouldn’t agree with that summation, if anything In from the Side depicts agony of having to hide the secret and the comeuppance that will inevitably follow if they are found out.

And credit must be given to Matt Carter because he is one talented chap. Not only is he the director/writer, he is the cinematographer, editor and musician . His command over visuals is stunning; check out the emotive use of lighting in the fairground scene as they connect amongst neon lights and also the sweeping vistas of snow covered French Alps in the extended Christmas scenes. Plus, the scenes of rugby; complete with all the sweat, mud and physicality it can muster make for compelling viewing, especially as the story deepens and loyalties are tested.  His music too underscores the sexual tension, burgeoning drama and melancholy of the situation in a way that’s simply gorgeous to listen to. There’s an ambient and building drama to the score that gives voice to the unspoken desire as it threatens to burst to the surface. If I have one criticism of the film, it’s the length of it. It feels a little overlong in a few stretches, but this minor issue shouldn’t detract from an emotional and unexpected drama that succeeds on countless levels.

The two leads of the film , Alexander Lincoln and Alexander King are well cast as the conflicted men at the centre of it all. Displaying a subtle desperation and quiet contemplation, Alexander Lincoln, with his soulful eyes, is wonderful to watch. Often without talking, he completely gets across the longing, guilt and passion of someone in a situation that’s throwing caution to the wind with possibly bad consequences. Alexander King plays the more confident and outgoing part of the relationship. He does this very well, while also deepening the sensitivity of the part as realises the implications of what’s happening and how things have gotten more intense than expected. As mentioned earlier, it’s the small moments between the men that most convince as their secret affair grows into something more that neither even expected. The two very handsome leads  share terrific  chemistry, that ignites when together and their nuances are truly wonderful to watch. You seriously would buy them as a real couple because of how convincing they both are. The other people who really stand out are William Hearle and Pearse Egan. The former is touching as the outsider of the team who starts to crumble as relationships fray and the latter provides much of the humour as the cheeky chap who says what people are thinking with great wit and impish charm. 

So all in all, In from the Side is a well directed romance drama from the very talented Matt Carter. I would highly recommend this film to people for the authentic nature of it and the superb job done by both cast and director.