Bent cover art

Bent Details

1997 Certificate 18
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 1858 members

An interesting cast fills out this solemn production based on the play by Martin Sherman (who also wrote the screenplay). During WWII, a Berlin homosexual is caught up in the Nazi hysteria. After being forced to kill his lover, he is placed in a prison camp, where he lies so he will be classified as Jewish rather than .. Read more

Starring Clive Owen, Lothaire Bluteau, Ian McKellen, Mick Jagger
Director Sean Mathias
Genres Drama, Gay/Lesbian

Sign up Bent DVD

loading loading...

Bent cover art

Bent

An interesting cast fills out this solemn production based on the play by Martin Sherman (who also wrote the screenplay). During WWII, a Berlin homosexual is caught up in the Nazi hysteria. After being forced to kill his lover, he is placed in a prison camp, where he lies so he will be classified as Jewish rather than homosexual. After a series a constitution-breaking incidents, his love for a fellow male prisoner brings him to admit his true nature. Features Mick Jagger in a brief role as a drag queen.

Starring Clive Owen, Lothaire Bluteau, Ian McKellen, Mick Jagger, Jude Law, Suzanne Bertish
Director Sean Mathias
Studio CINEMA CLUB
Run time DVD: 1 hr 40 mins
Certificate Certificate 18
Genres Drama, Gay/Lesbian
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: not available
Production year: 1997
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (6) of Bent

    View all
  • 3 stars out of 5

    Lothaire Bluteau and Clive Owen here star as fellow prisoners-turned-lovers against the background of the appallingly cruel conditions of the Nazi concentration camps. Martin Sherman adapted his own West End play about Nazi homophobia and persecution, while theatre stalwart Sean Mathias directs. Mathias fails to give the film any emotional urgency — even in the opening Berlin party scenes in which Mick Jagger intrudes to no real purpose — so it's the actors, including Ian McKellen, who have to carry the main burden. They stagger a bit, but provide the impetus the direction lacks.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • A briefly controversial play of the 70s, in which love flourished under appalling conditions, transfers to the screen and just lies there.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of Bent

    View all
  • 10 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Gay Pride?

    Having been on the Gay Pride March four days ago, I remarked to my friends that we don't need Gay Pride as much today as we have come such a long way? Then I saw this film! Having seen the play, twice, I thought the film would not cut the mustard. How wrong, it is equally harrowing and horrific. How dare I forget? How easy is it to be complacent? A must see for everyone, especially queer sexual men.

      • philip reardon from St Albans
      • Posted 06 Jul 2005 22:47

  • Most recent members' review of Bent

    View all
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Dramatic and Moving

    This was a very moving film, using the backdrop of the holocaust and the persecution of homosexuals to highlight a complex character. It was gripping.

      • sal3015 from London
      • Posted 04 Aug 2004 09:52

  • More like this

    View all
    Showing 1 to 4 of 20

    loading

Find cinemas


Rating breakdown

1,858 Member ratings
  • 100
184
  • 90
131
  • 80
258
  • 70
277
  • 60
318
  • 50
201
  • 40
168
  • 30
127
  • 20
129
  • 10
65

Related user collection

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop

    • Bent

    • Bent
      An interesting cast fills out this solemn production based on the play by Martin Sherman (who also wrote the screenplay). During WWII, a Berlin homosexual is caught up in the Nazi hysteria. After being forced to kill his lover, he is placed in a prison camp, where he lies so he will be classified ...