TMC Reviews… Out At Lunch – gay girls and graduation at Cambridge University

by Sticky Toffee Pudding

For many university students about to graduate, their primary concerns are usually exam results, what they’re going to do after and not making a total arse of themselves as they go up on stage to collect their degree. Thus, filming a documentary about being a lesbian on the cusp of this momentous occasion is probably not what most have in mind. And yet Emma Brogen did just that back in 2008 when she graduated from Cambridge University with a BA Honours in Zoology.

When I first heard about Out At Lunch I was most certainly intrigued. The film interviews Emma and her friends during their final days at university as they prepare for one last formal meal together, a sort of last supper. This time however, they’ve jazzed things up a little by inviting their parents; only just a little bit out of the ordinary then?

Such sophistication is perhaps something you might expect from a group of Cambridge students, yet I was lucky enough to catch a private screening last month and was thoroughly impressed with the down to earth, open and honest characters that presented themselves on the screen. If anything the fact that they’ve all managed to bag themselves a degree from one of the world’s top institutions is hardly a feature. These girls see Cambridge not as some badge of prestige but rather the place they have built their home, life and friendships for the last three years. They are refreshingly normal despite the unusual quirks and idiosyncrasies of their environment.

The film, Emma’s documentary debut, cleverly infuses the girls’ interviews and clips of their modern lives – from shots of them socialising around BBQs to punting down the Cam – with segments from a peculiar archaic film on life in Cambridge titled ‘The Questioning City’ by Michael Redgrave. This mismatch presents itself as bizarre and disjointed to the viewer at first, however it soon becomes clear that themes of identity and acceptance are underlining.

Directed by Emma’s sister Alisa Arnah (a suggestion that perhaps talent runs in the family), the film begins by presenting an archetypical impression of Cambridge; from wide shots of the beautiful Trinity College to porters in bowler hats bobbing up the stairs; all to the sound of poignant choir music, perpetuating the feeling of grandeur and prestige. However, a few quick sharp cuts shatter this illusion as we are introduced to the girls and they present us with their experiences.

The girls’ stories are most certainly interesting. They are in fact so interesting that we are left wanting to know more. Information regarding their backgrounds seems to be lacking in the interviews and it is sometimes hard to remember who is talking, allowing a sense of ambiguity to creep into the film. This is perhaps a testament to Emma’s respect for the privacy of her friends, not wanting to present their whole life stories to the scrutiny of the screen.

Yet there is still a range of different experiences, from Sarah who just assumed she was straight when she first arrived at university, to Suse who didn’t really want to believe it until she met her girlfriend Jen. And the film touches upon many different themes, from the friendships they’ve formed with their Lesbertarian group, to family expectations. It strikes a chord and had me reminiscing about my own coming out experiences, smiling subconsciously at the screen.

This familiarity captures our attention and engages us throughout the film in such a way that it is almost a bit of a surprise when it ends. The fluidity of the narrative allows you to get lost in the feature, unaware that time is passing by.

The music greatly enhances this feeling of seamlessness, with Emma and Alisa supporting local and up and coming talent. Lail Arad’s ‘Who Am I’ fits aptly and it’s clear the lyrics are no accident, whilst Laura Hocking and Lulu and the Lampshades pepper the film with their gentle harmonies and delicate sounds with just the right level of quirkiness.

The strongest feature of the film lies in its realism. It details a variety of issues showing the viewer that they’re all ok, whether learning how to deal and be comfortable with sexual confusion (Sarah) or standing proud against your parents’ expectations and confident in your decisions (Meg). There is an inspiring frankness to their honesty and the girls successfully show that whilst being gay may not necessarily be who you are, it does determine many things about you.

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For more details on the film you can visit their website here. Watch this space for an interview with Alisa Arnah and Emma Brogen coming soon.