Adapted from John Donnelly’s drama, The Pass compiles three brilliantly written hotel room encounters from a decade of closeted tension, unfulfilled love, and emotional repression. Filmed against the backdrop of professional football, it looks at the emotional cost of success and the price of sacrificing one’s identity in a hypermasculine society.
The Pass Official Trailer
The Pass Summary | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Pass |
| Movies Info: | United Kingdom (2016) |
| Length: | 88 minutes |
| Is The Pass BL? | Yes, there's a BL romance. |
| Genre: | Drama / Boy's love |
Plot
Jason and Ade, both 17-year-old rising football talents, share a hotel room in Romania the night before their club’s debut in a major European tournament. As excitement and nervous energy brew, a single unexpected kiss changes everything. Over the next ten years, the repercussions of that night unravel across three confined hotel encounters.
In the first act, their innocence and chemistry peak. In the second, Jason—now a star player under media scrutiny—stages a fake sex scandal with a stripper to quash gay rumors. In the third, a reunion with Ade (now out and emotionally stable) forces Jason to confront a decade of denial, heartbreak, and the weight of a truth he’s never been able to face.
The Pass Cast
Charactor
A football prodigy whose meteoric rise is shadowed by self-denial and internalized shame.
Russell Tovey
Tovey excels in showcasing Jason’s contradictions—bravado masking deep emotional paralysis. His final scenes are haunting in their vulnerability.
Jason’s best friend, teammate, and first love. Open-hearted, introspective, and willing to grow beyond fear.
Arinzé Kene
Kene grounds the film with quiet strength, embodying a man who has done the emotional work Jason refuses to face.
Director
Ben A. Williams
The Pass marks his directorial debut, showing restraint and focus in crafting a dialogue-heavy, emotionally complex story. With strong stage sensibilities and keen attention to performance, Williams brings nuance to the claustrophobic narrative.
Movie Highlight
One kiss, a lifetime of consequences: A spontaneous kiss between two young footballers on the eve of a major game sets the course for a decade of secrecy, denial, and heartbreak.
Three scenes, ten years: The entire film unfolds across three intense hotel room encounters — at ages 17, 22, and 27 — revealing the evolution of identity, ambition, and repressed love.
A study in masculinity and shame: Jason’s internal conflict as a closeted professional athlete in a hypermasculine world is depicted with haunting realism, culminating in his emotional breakdown and self-reckoning.
The final confrontation: In their last meeting, Jason desperately pleads for another chance while Ade, now grounded and at peace, firmly refuses — making the line “Was it real, that night?” hit like a gut punch.
Russell Tovey’s career-defining performance: From playful teen to broken man, Tovey delivers a raw, multilayered portrayal of someone unable to reconcile success with authenticity.
The closing track – James Vincent McMorrow’s “Look Out”: The final scene — Jason alone behind a curtain, watching Ade leave — paired with this ethereal song, becomes an unforgettable cinematic moment.
The Pass Review
Review
🌟 Story — 4.5/5
A tight, emotionally claustrophobic three-act chamber piece that speaks volumes with silence and suppressed emotion. The play-to-film transition preserves its theatrical roots, focusing on dialogue and subtle shifts in power and vulnerability.
🌟 Acting — 5/5
Russell Tovey delivers a career-best performance as Jason—cocky, crumbling, and completely riveting. Arinzé Kene’s Ade is the heart of the film, tender yet grounded. The supporting characters, though brief, punctuate the leads’ emotional journeys with meaningful contrast.
🌟 Chemistry — 5/5
Jason and Ade’s chemistry feels raw, lived-in, and achingly unresolved. The sexual tension and emotional history bleed through every exchange. Whether in flirtation, rage, or vulnerability, their connection is magnetic.
🌟 Production — 4/5
Minimalist sets reflect the psychological intensity of the script. The cinematography makes strong use of tight spaces and shifting light to mirror inner turmoil. A sparse but poignant soundtrack elevates emotional beats without overpowering them.
🌟 Ending — 4.5/5
“I don’t know,” Jason finally says—a shattering moment of truth that encapsulates the film’s central tragedy. The final scene is both devastating and poetic: a curtain drawn, a love lost, and a life still in hiding.
The Pass Information
Where to Watch
🏅 Nominated for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the BAFTA Awards
🏅 Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Arinzé Kene), British Independent Film Awards
📺 Critically acclaimed for its honest portrayal of internalized homophobia in sports
Where to Watch
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