AJ’s Screening Room: God’s Own Country Is a Hot, Rugged Romance

September 14, 2023
AJ SLOAN

It seems to be that in recent years, queer cinema has gained significant traction in mainstream media— Hollywood has finally received the memo that man-on-man make-out sessions sell. One very gay gem that has both captivated and aroused audiences far and wide is God's Own Country. Released in 2017 and directed by Francis Lee, this indie flick delves deep into the homoeroticism of rural England, presenting a raw and unapologetically gay exploration of love & sexuality between two smolderingly hot sheep-herding hotties.

Set in the Yorkshire countryside (their accents alone will make you leak in your trousers), God's Own Country tells the story of Johnny Saxby (played by Josh O'Connor), a DL farmer of the rough trade variety who lives and works on his family's sheep farm. Then Gheorghe Ionescu (played by Alec Secăreanu), a Romanian migrant worker (and total bottom), arrives to help with the lambing season. His arrival throws Johnny for a loop, setting the stage for a profoundly raw connection between the two men. As the film unfolds, their initially volatile dynamic and sexual tension explodes into not only some of the best onscreen sex ever portrayed but also a passion unmatched by any other film in recent years.

The homoerotic tension between Johnny and Gheorghe is palpable from their first encounter. The vast, desolate setting mirrors the isolation both characters feel. This, added to their physical proximity and the demands of farm life, creates an intensity that can barely be contained by the screen you're watching the film on. As they work closely together, the boundaries between them blur. Their connection becomes a potent mix of desire and vulnerability. Think Brokeback Mountain but more believable and void of canned beans.

In contrast to much of queer cinema that tends to focus on the struggles and hardships (again, Brokeback Mountain), God's Own Country gives us a refreshing story where the characters' queerness is not the central conflict. As Johnny and Gheorghe's relationship escalates, we see a subtly profound change in both of them. Johnny begins to confront his repressed emotions and slowly lets his guard down. Gheorghe reveals his own vulnerability, transcending the common trope of the stoic migrant worker.

Then there are the unapologetic and passionate scenes under the moonlight of the countryside which are punctuated with post-nut afterglow conversations between the two men. This is usually when I get overly descriptive and rant about how the sex will have your pants zipper bursting at the seams (and, well, they will be), but what will stay with you long after the film's end is the authenticity portrayed in them. The energy that both actors emit from these scenes will permeate your heart and your prostate.

God's Own Country is a rarity in cinema that challenges popular notions of love and masculinity. This film and its compelling exploration of homoeroticism (and love too, I guess) will most certainly leave you feeling warm in all of the right places. It is the perfect Netflix and chill pick for those of you out there who actually want to finish the movie before bangin' it out — although you are likely to have had both your zippers undone come the end.