Watch Christopher and His Kind

"Christopher and His Kind" is a 2011 film adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's memoir of the same name. The movie follows the life of the writer Christopher Isherwood, played by Matt Smith, as he leaves his home in England in the early 1930s to explore the pleasures of Berlin. The film takes place at a time when homosexuality was illegal in England, and Isherwood decides to leave his stultifying life behind to explore the hedonistic pleasures of Berlin. The city was a haven for artists and intellectuals, and Isherwood quickly becomes part of the scene. Along with his close friend, the sexy and glamorous singer Jean Ross, played by Imogen Poots, Isherwood enjoys everything that Berlin has to offer, including rowdy parties, anonymous sex, and drugs.

As Isherwood becomes increasingly immersed in the nightlife of Berlin, he also becomes more and more enamored with a young rent-boy named Heinz, played by Douglas Booth. Despite the obvious dangers of being gay in a time when homosexuality was a crime, Isherwood falls deeply in love with Heinz, and the chemistry between Smith and Booth really shines on screen. Their relationship is at the heart of the film, and it is a tender and touching exploration of love in an era when it was not widely accepted.

The film also provides a fascinating glimpse at the creative process of a writer. Throughout the movie, we see Isherwood working on his famous novel "Goodbye to Berlin," for which he is famous to this day. The movie shows how Isherwood used his experiences in Berlin to inspire his art, and we get to see the process of how he translated his wild, steamy experiences into literature.

The performances in this film are fantastic, particularly from Smith, who is a joy to watch as Isherwood. He perfectly captures the wit and humor of the author, and he is also very believable in the more emotional scenes. Poots is also excellent as Jean Ross, and Booth is magnetic as Heinz. Together, the three actors create a sense of real chemistry that keeps the story moving along.

In addition to the romance and literary elements of the film, "Christopher and His Kind" also tackles some larger historical themes. The movie explores the rise of the Nazi party in Germany, and we see the devastating effects of this on the lives of the characters in the film. As Isherwood becomes more focused on his writing, he also becomes increasingly aware of the dangerous path that Germany is taking, and we get a sense of the urgency and fear that must have gripped those who were living through this time.

Overall, "Christopher and His Kind" is a beautifully made film that really captures the essence of Isherwood's life in Berlin. It's a love story, a coming-of-age tale, a meditation on the creative process, and a historical drama all rolled into one. The performances are fantastic, the cinematography is stunning, and the story is both fascinating and emotionally affecting. Whether you're a fan of Isherwood's writing or just looking for a great movie to watch, "Christopher and His Kind" is definitely worth checking out.

Christopher and His Kind is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.