Henry Yeoh, Director, “Separate Tongues”

“Separate Tongues” was shown at the International Moving Image Society evening for LGBTQI films and filmmakers on Tuesday, 10 July 2018 at Zero One, Soho, London.

Henry Yeoh presented his contribution at the multiple film gathering named above. “Separate Tongues” is a touching, worrying, sensitive and beautifully portrayed view into the furtive, secretive and “illegal” world of homosexual men 1n 1957, a time when blackmail, “queer-bashing” and gay-persecution were at a high point. We meet Robert (Ian McCurrach), an older gay man, married but leading a double life, “When I was at home with Mary and the kids, there would be part of you there” and Wallace (Riley Clark) “…we run, we leave France, I don’t care”,  a young entertainer on the variety and clubs circuit. The separate tongues of the title referring to the furtive language of the day where “…nancy that..” meant forget it, a “jogering omi” was an entertainer, “Turn my oyster up” meant make me smile and an “Antique HP” was an older gay man.

Robert has tried to live the double life and make it work, but his wife has found out. Landlady Mrs Aldershot (Clare Gollop) is suspicious but unable to prove, to her satisfaction, what is going on. Matters can not continue as they are and Robert wants to bring the affair to an end. Can disaster be averted?

To a beautifully haunting original musical score of piano and cello, by Thomas Bellingham, Yeoh gives us a ten minute masterpiece in story telling and issue exposure. In these days of Gay Pride when the gay community can live their lives in the open and parade their joy of sexual love and freedom through the streets (but still face the same persecutions and prejudices only without the threat of prison) it is easy to forget the terrible and appalling treatment the community have received since the first specific outlawing of gay-male sex, by Henry VIII in 1533. The late 1950’s were a watershed moment when the first recognition began to emerge of the shocking injustice done to gay men at this time before legislation first began to revoke the evil prohibition in 1967, although the law then only applied to England and gay-men in Scotland did not receive the very beginnings of justice until 1980 and Northern Ireland in 1982. Full inclusion and recognition and an end to prejudice may still await the community but the era of the 1950’s, with its destruction of lives and livelihoods and careers is a period worthy of this kind of sensitive reflection and exposure.

Yeoh avoids the trap of sentimentality or the cinema-graphical error of over sensationalising the drama by giving us a realistic every-day presentation that allows for insight and sensitive sympathy to these furtive, worried and pre-occupied lovers. A strong hand from producer Brenda Rundle, excellent make-up and costume work from Paris Noonan and a focussed and perceptive script from Jack Jones  add to the authentic and engaging portrayals in the film. Additional excellent supporting performances from David East (Gordon) and Ash Bray complete the cast.

This is a fine quality short film from an emerging filmmaker of talent and discretion. We will follow Henry Yeoh’s new and emerging career with interest from this Blog.

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