LIKE IT IS (1998)

Steve Bell and Ian Rose star in Paul Oremland’s 1998 British romantic drama LIKE IT IS.

Today’s post was selected/written by QCA guest writer João Delfim (@circus_of_my_mind on Instagram).

LIKE IT IS

1998. UK.

 Director: Paul Oremland

Screenplay: Robert Gray

 Starring: Steve Bell, Ian Rose, Roger Daltrey & Dani Behr

Paul Oremland’s underground coming-of-age gay drama LIKE IT IS, released in 1998, makes opposite worlds collide as it narrates the tale of a young bare-knuckle street boxer coming to terms with his homosexuality. The unfolding of Craig’s journey of self-discovery feels refined yet down-to-earth, cleverly using the music industry and the clubbing world as eclectic, ever-moving backdrops that contrast with the protagonist's intimate struggle.

There were two main themes that struck me while engaging with Oremland’s feature film. On the one hand, the desire for the male body and how it guides the protagonist’s discovery of his sexual orientation. Otherwise, the director explores the hyper-masculine world of underground boxing, built on the confrontation of two male bodies in a quest for virility and dominance. The hero evolves in these two parallel worlds and discovers his identity through his body, which serves as either a shield of protection or a mirror of desire. This oxymoron gives LIKE IT IS a dynamic structure and great build up into the movie’s climax, as well as numerous homoerotic scenes — from the bare-knuckle matches to the intimate scenes shared by the two leads.

I have to especially praise Steve Bell’s portrayal of the title-character, Craig. As his first professional acting role, Bell is charismatic, relatable and gives an utmost convincing performance. The naturalness with which Craig’s story is brought to life makes this character feel like this film’s ultimate highlight.

In a nutshell, Oremland’s take is gritty and sexy and feels refreshing at a time when Hollywood-polished movies overtook the western cultural world. The portrayal of a gay relationship as the main focus of the plot is wonderfully done, with nuance and a magical sense of erotica that make this movie a must-watch for lovers of niche Queer Cinema from the late nineties.

You can find LIKE IT IS streaming on YouTube, available for rent/purchase in the UK on AppleTV & Amazon. It’s also available on DVD.