Another Country

Another Country is a 1984 British romantic historical drama written by Julian Mitchell, adapted from his play of the same name. Directed by Marek Kanievska, the film stars Rupert Everett and Colin Firth in his feature film debut. Another Country is loosely based on the life of the spy and double agent Guy Burgess, Guy Bennett in the film. It explores his homosexuality and exposure to Marxism, while examining the hypocrisy and snobbery of the English public school system. Plot summary The setting is a public school, modelled on Eton and Winchester, in the 1930s. Guy Bennett and Tommy Judd are pupils and, because they are both outsiders in their own ways, friends (Bennett is gay while Judd is a Marxist). One day, a teacher walks in on a pupil, Martineau, and a boy from another house engaged in mutual masturbation. Martineau subsequently hangs himself, as teachers and the senior pupils try their hardest to keep the scandal away from parents and the outside world. The scandal, however, gives the army-obsessed house captain, Fowler, a welcome reason to scheme against Bennett. Fowler dislikes him and Judd and wants to stop Bennett from becoming a "God" – a school title for the two top prefects. Fowler is able to intercept a love note from Bennett to James Harcourt. Bennett agrees to be punished with a caning so as not to compromise Harcourt; whereas on earlier occasions, he had avoided punishment by blackmailing the other "Lords" with the threat that he would reveal their own experiences with him.