When: Opens January 26

Weekend is a fleeting romance in the vein of Ethan Hawke classic Before Sunrise, played out over the course of one misty weekend in Nottingham, England. The twist is, this is a tale of boy meets boy.

Written and directed by Andrew Haigh, who assisted Ridley Scott on Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, the film follows handsome lifeguard Russell (Tom Cullen) as he slips out early from his straight best mate’s party claiming he’s tired, instead heading to a local gay club where he sets his sights on dirty blond Glenn (Chris New).

A clever piece of editing means we never see them hook up, with another lad possibly in the picture before Glenn is revealed curled up in Russell’s bed the morning after. Gallery worker Glenn captures Russell’s recollections of the previous night on a tape recorder, as part of an art project he’s working on. Gradually teasing out the finer details from an emotionally reticent Russell, who’s not quite as comfortable with his sexuality, there’s an immediate spark between the pair.

A refreshingly honest romance without resorting to sentimentality or cliche, Weekend plays its hand lightly. Believable dialogue jumps effortlessly from funny recollections of former sexual escapades to larger issues like Russell’s foster care or the lack of believable gay representation in the arts.

There are no clumsy stereotypes here, just two young lads slowly letting their guard down with a perfect stranger. Friday’s initial meeting leads to a surprise visit outside Russell’s work on Saturday arvo, then a boozy, coke-fuelled evening; this is no barely-glimpsed romp a la Brokeback Mountain. It doesn’t flinch from the reality of sex between two attractive blokes and is all hotter for it.

The catch? Glenn’s moving to the States on Monday to study art, hence the title.

Haigh’s touching second feature has the courage to avoid the Richard Curtis over-the-top school of romance, even taking a sly dig at Notting Hill.

A slow-burner that wears its heart on its sleeve, Weekend will leave you wanting more, just like the best weekends, really.