EIFF: Ungentle
Histories of British espionage and male homosexuality intertwine in a mid-length film narrated by Ben Whishaw.
Dirs. Huw Lemmey, Onyeka Igwe / United Kingdom / 2022 / English
An unnamed fictional narrator (Ben Whishaw) relates his rise and fall as a spy in the mid-20th century, detailing the clandestine natures of both his job and his experience as a gay man at a time when homosexuality was illegal. Artist, writer and podcaster Huw Lemmey (Bad Gays) collaborates with artist filmmaker Onyeka Igwe (No Archive Can Restore You) on this 16mm film whose story could be ripped from the pages of John le Carré, but whose approach is an alchemic queer blend of imagery and language. Packing a dizzying amount of wit, insight and poignancy into its 37 minutes, Ungentle is one of the strongest UK films of any length we’ve seen this year, we are proud to share it with EIFF audiences in a solo cinema presentation.
Kate Taylor, Programme Director
Co-Director Huw Lemmey will be at the festival to present their film.
Image gallery
A gallery carousel of 2 items
Still from Ungentle
© 2022 Credit : Ungentle
Ungentle
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Writer-directors: Huw Lemmey, Onyeka Igwe
Huw Lemmey is an artist and writer. He has published the novels Unknown Language (2020), Red Tory: My Corbyn Chemsex Hell (2019) and Chubz: The Demonization of My Working Arse (2015). With Ben Miller, he hosts the highly-successful podcast Bad Gays, 'about evil and complicated queers in history'. Their book, Bad Gays: A Homosexual History was recently published by Verso Books.
Onyeka Igwe lives and works in London. Her work has been presented in solo exhibitions and screenings at institutions and festivals including LUX, London, England (2021); Mercer Union, Toronto, Canada (2021); KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, Germany (2020); London Film Festival, London, England (2020 and 2015); Rotterdam International Film Festival, Rotterdam, Netherlands (2020, 2019, and 2018); CC Matienzo, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2019); Smithsonian African American Film Festival, Washington, DC (2018); Institute of Contemporary Arts: ICA, London, England (2017); and Edinburgh Artists' Moving Image Festival, Edinburgh (2016).
Producer: Pinky Ghundale
Voiceover: Ben Whishaw
Distributor: LUX
Ungentle is a Studio Voltaire commission
Read More
Huw Lemmey navigates sex, politics and espionage in new film, by David Pittoors // Wallpaper
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Special ticket price for Ungentle & concessions
£5 - Full price
£3.50 - Concession
£2.50 - Under 18s
Low-income benefit recipients, students, under 26s, arts workers, D/deaf and disabled people are entitled to a 30% concession discount. Under 18s get 50% off tickets. All concessions are subject to availability. Proof of eligibility may be requested at venues.
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Certificate
Ungentle is rated 15, recommended by EIFF.
Buying tickets
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Photo: Still from Ungentle
© 2022 Ungentle