Alexander Lincoln has returned to the BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival with an entirely different kind of story.
Following his standout performance in the 2022 sports drama In from the Side, Lincoln now stars in A Night Like This alongside Jack Brett Anderson, a newcomer to BFI Flare who promises to leave his own mark.
The film takes place over one evening in London, where Lukas, played by Jack Brett Anderson, and Oliver, portrayed by Alexander Lincoln, find each other in a pub just when both of them are at low points.
Their initial conversation feels awkward, but a spark of curiosity lingers beneath the surface.
Before they know it, the pair embarks on a winding nighttime odyssey through the city’s streets, encountering hidden corners of the capital and unexpected moments of shared vulnerability.
By eight o’clock the next morning, they must each decide whether to separate forever or acknowledge a deeper connection that transcends typical labels.
David Bradley, well-known for his role in Harry Potter, also joins the cast, lending the movie extra cinematic heft.
What sets A Night Like This apart is its refusal to box the two leads into a conventional romance, even though the film contains undeniably romantic elements.
Instead, it leans into a theme of connection that blossoms from their shared feelings of loneliness.
In an era where we are constantly “connected” through smartphones, the film challenges audiences to slow down and truly see one another without distractions.
According to Jack Brett Anderson, the movie is essentially one long conversation, a chance for two strangers to meet without obligation or pretense.
Alexander Lincoln echoes that sentiment, commenting on the joy of exploring something deeper than a quick hook-up.
He notes that while sex is a baseline of life, focusing solely on it can overshadow the kind of genuine friendship these characters strive to build.
This creative choice not only differentiates A Night Like This from typical queer narratives but also enriches its emotional core by emphasizing growth and self-discovery.
For Oliver, that journey involves questioning his sexuality more directly than he ever has before.
He arrives at the pub with the swagger of a presumed straight man—white T-shirt, leather jacket, guitar slung over his shoulder—only to unravel piece by piece as the night progresses.
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Alexander Lincoln has commented that Oliver never consciously labeled himself as straight, having dated women but not reflecting on the fullness of his identity until he meets Lukas.
Over the course of a few dark hours, Oliver and Lukas forge a fragile bond that pushes each to confront his past, reevaluate his present, and envision a more honest future.
It’s a film that reveals how the right conversation, at the right moment, can open doors we never even knew existed.
The actors hope viewers walk away feeling encouraged to speak their own truths, especially since, as Jack Brett Anderson observes, we tend to fear vulnerability before discovering its liberating power.
This theme resonates particularly with Alexander Lincoln, whose previous film In from the Side inspired many audience members to reach out about their own coming-out journeys.
He remains proud of that reception and suggests a sequel might be on the horizon.
Still, for now, A Night Like This takes center stage at BFI Flare, inviting filmgoers to reflect on how a single encounter can shift the entire trajectory of our lives.
In a few months, Lincoln will also appear in This Bitter Earth, directed by Billy Porter, but this London-set adventure with co-star Anderson is the immediate talk of the festival.
With sold-out screenings and new tickets released only in limited windows, the demand speaks volumes.
By highlighting human connection over easy romance or casual hook-ups, A Night Like This proves that sometimes the greatest drama is found in the simplest act of listening.
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